GIFT   OF 

<US   PUTHERFORD  BACON 

a  RY 


MODERN 
SCIENTIFIC  WHIST 

THE 

PRINCIPLES    OF   THE    MODERN    GAME 

ANALYZED    AND  EXTENDED 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  OVER 

SIXTY    CRITICAL    ENDINGS 

AND 

ANNOTATED  GAMES 

FROM 

ACTUAL  PLAY 


BY 

C.  D..  P.   HAMILTON, 


JBeto 
BRENTANO'S 

LONDON  CHICAGO  WASHINGTON  PARIS 


Copyright,  1894, 

BY 

BRENTANO'S 


Ubfs  Boofe 

Is  FRATERNALLY  DEDICATED 

TO 

THE  WHIST-PLAYER 

WHO   LOVES   AND   STUDIES 

THE    FIRST    OF    GAMES 


282077 


PREFACE. 

THIS  treatise  on  Whist  is  based  upon  the  system  of 
leads  known  as  American  Leads. 

The  principle  underlying  these  leads  is  the  invention 
of  N.  B.  Trist,  Esq.,  of  New  Orleans,  La.;  and  as  now 
extended  and  simplified  the  Whist  world  is  indebted  to 
Mr.  Henry  Jones,  M.  R.  C.  S.  ("Cavendish"),  of  Lon- 
don, England. 

The  purpose  of  this  volume  is  to  present  to  the 
student  of  the  game  the  rules  and  maxims  of  play  as 
laid  down  by  the  authorities,  and  practiced  by  the 
strongest  players.  And  an  effort  has  been  made  to 
simplify  and  render  clear  the  applications  of  the  many 
rules  and  maxims  by  copious  analyses  and  numerous 
illustrations.  Much  space  has  been  devoted  to  the  play 
of  second  hand,  the  intricacies  of  end-play,  the  depart- 
ment of  inference  and  to  the  management  of  trumps. 

The  writer  has  no  inventions  to  announce,  no  theories 
to  defend,  and  is  indebted  to  the  literature  of  the  game 
and  to  the  expert  players  met  in  practice  for  all  that 
appears  in  the  following  pages  which  may  prove  of  value 
to  the  Students  of  Whist. 

C.  D.  P.  H. 

FEBRUARY,  1894. 


CONTENTS. 

(For  a  complete  Index,  with  cross-references, 
see  pages  583-599.) 


Preface v 

CHAPTER   I. 
Technical  Terms,  Abbreviations,  etc n 

CHAPTER   II. 
The  First  Hand  or  Lead 18 

CHAPTER   III. 
Second  Hand 100 

CHAPTER   IV. 
Third  Hand 160 

CHAPTER   V. 
Fourth  Hand 240 

CHAPTER   VI. 
Trumps 246 

CHAPTER    VII. 
The  Call 267 


Vlll  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

CHAPTER   VIII. 
The  Echo 277 

CHAPTER    IX. 
The  Trump  Card 320 

CHAPTER    X. 
Overtrumping 324 

CHAPTER    XI. 
Blocking  Partner  in  the  Trump  Suit 327 

CHAPTER    XII. 
The  Suit  Echo 330 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
Finesse 335 

CHAPTER   XIV. 
Underplay 352 

CHAPTER    XV. 
The  Discard 359 

CHAPTER    XVI. 
Leading  to  the  Discard 374 

CHAPTER   XVII. 
Forcing 378 


CONTENTS.  IX 

CHAPTER   XVIII. 
Leading  the  Adversaries' Suit 387 

CHAPTER   XIX. 
Leading  Through  the  Strong  Hand 389 

CHAPTER   XX. 
Throwing  the  Lead 392 

CHAPTER   XXI. 
Changing  Suits • 395 

CHAPTER    XXII. 
The   Return 397 

CHAPTER   XXIII. 
The  Twelfth 406 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 
The  Thirteenth 412 

CHAPTER   XXV. 
Special  Topics 416 

CHAPTER   XXVI. 
Counting  the  Hands 439 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 
Critical  Endings 455 


X  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

Illustrative   Hands 523 

Hand  I.  A  Neat  Play  for  the  Odd 524 

Hand  II.  A  Critical  Ending 527 

Hand  III.  Compelling  the  Opponent  to  Play  a 

Coup  to  Save  the  Game 532 

Hand  IV.  Departing  from  Rule 536 

Hand  V.  Anticipating  a  Call 539 

Hand  VI.  Holding  Up 543 

Hand  VII.  Refusing  to  Answer  the  Call 547 

Hand  VIII.  Fine  Play  for  the  Odd  Card 550 

Hand  IX.  Throwing  High  Cards 554 

Hand  X.  Holding  Up  and  Underplay 558 

Hand  XI.  Leading  Up  to  a  Double  Tenace  in 

Trumps 561 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

Fundamental  Principles  of  Whist  Laws 566 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

The  Laws  of  American  Whist 568 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 

Laws  of  Whist 574 

CHAPTER    XXXII. 

Etiquette  of  Whist 581 

Index 583 


MODERN  SCIENTIFIC  WHIST. 


CHAPTER   I. 

TECHNICAL    TERMS,    ABBREVIATIONS,    ETC. 

BRING  IN. — To  make  the  cards  of  a  suit. 

CALL. — To  ask  for  trumps  ;  a  conventional  play  request- 
ing partner  to  lead  trumps.  See  "  signal." 

COMMAND. — The  ability  to  take  every  trick  in  a  suit  no 
matter  by  whom  led. 

CONVENTIONAL. — This  term  is  applicable  to  any  gener- 
ally recognized  order  of  play.  You  play 
"  conventionally "  when  you  lead  the  knave 
from  king,  queen,  knave  and  two  small. 

COUP. — A  strategic  stroke  ;  a  brilliant  play  resulting  in 
gain. 

COURT  CARDS. — Ace,  king,  queen  and  knave. 

COVER. — To  play  a  card  higher  than  the  one  led. 

CROSS-RUFF.—  When  "A"  trumps  a  suit  led  by  "  B  "  who  in 
turn  trumps  a  suit  led  by  "A."  See  "  see-saw." 

DEALER. — The  one  who  deals;  i.e.,  distributes  the 
cards  to  each  player. 

DESCHAPELLES  Coup. — The  play  of  a  king  or  other 
high  card  at  the  head  of  many,  for  the  purpose 
of  forcing  the  ace  or  other  high  card,  to  make 
good  a  smaller  card  in  partner's  hand. 


:  v 

1 
12  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

DISCARD. — To  play  a  card  of  a  different  plain  suit  than 
the  one  led. 

ECHO. — To  echo  partner's  call  ;  *".  <?.,  to  show  by  play 
that  you  have  more  than  three  trumps. 

ELDEST  HAND. — The  player  to  the  left  of  the  dealer. 

ESTABLISH. — A  suit  is  established  when  you  have  com- 
plete control.  See  "  command." 

EXPOSED  CARD. — Every  card  faced  upon  the  table 
otherwise  than  in  the  regular  course  of  play. 

FALL. — The  cards  that  have  been  played. 

FALSE  CARD. — An  unconventional  play  for  the  purpose 
of  deceiving  opponents. 

FINESSE. — Artifice  ;  stratagem.  An  endeavor  to  take  a 
trick  with  a  lower  card  when  a  higher  is  in  your 
hand.  When  you  do  not  play  your  best  of  two 
or  more  cards,  not  in  sequence  (second  or 
third  hand),  you  finesse  ;  as  when  holding  ace, 
queen  and  others,  to  partner's  lead,  you  play 
queen. 

FOLLOW. — The  cards  played  to  the  card  led.  The  card 
led  by  the  leader  after  a  high  card,  as  "A"  led 
ace,  and  followed  with  the  knave,  is  referred  to 
as  ''the  lead  an.d  follow." 

FORCE  — Leading  a  card  that  an  opponent  must  trump 
to  win,  or  a  losing  card  that  partner  must 
trump  to  gain  the  trick. 

FOURCHETTE. — The  card  next  higher  and  next  lower 
than  the  one  led  ;  i.  e.,  holding  queen,  ten- 
knave  led — you  have  a  fourchette. 

FOURTH  BEST. — The  fourth-best  card  of  a  suit,  as — 
queen,  9,  8,  6,  4, — the  "  6  "  is  the  fourth-best 
card. 

FOURTH  HAND  — The  player  to  the  right  of  the  leader  ; 
/.  e.t  the  last  player  upon  a  trick. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  13 

GAME. — Scoring  seven  points  or  more. 

GRAND  COUP. — Throwing  away  a  superfluous  trump  to 
avoid  the  lead.  See  "  Critical  Endings." 

GUARDED. — A  high  card  protected  by  smaller  ones,  that 
the  high  card  may  not  fall  to  a  higher  one. 

HAND. — The  thirteen  cards  given  to  each  player  by  the 
dealer.  The  four  hands  combined  are  referred 
to  as  the  hand  or  deal. 

HIGH  CARDS. — Ace,  king,  queen,  knave,  10,  9. 

HOLDING  UP. — Refusing  to  take  a  trick. 

HONORS. — Ace,  king,  queen,  knave  of  trumps. 

IN. — The  cards  that  have  not  been  played  are  said  to  be 
"in"  or  "in  play." 

IN  THE  LEAD. — When  it  is  your  turn  to  lead  the  first 
card  in  any  round  or  trick,  you  are  in  the  lead. 

LEADER. — The  first  player. 

LEADING  THROUGH. — Leading  a  suit  in  which  the  left- 
hand  adversary  is  strong. 

LEADING  UP  To. — When  the  opponent  returns  a  suit 
making  the  original  leader  of  the  suit  last  play- 
er to  the  trick,  it  is  termed  "  leading  up  to." 

LONG. — To  be  "  long  "  in  a  suit  is  to  have  great  numer- 
ical strength  in  it. 

LONG  SUIT. — A  suit  of  more  than  three  cards. 

LONG  TRUMP. — The  last  trump  in  play. 

LOSING  CARD. — A  card  that  may  not  take  a  trick. 

LOVE. — No  score. 

LOVE-ALL. — Synonymous  with  "  love" 

Low  CARDS. — All  the  cards  below  the  9.  Synonymous 
with  "  small  cards" 

MAKE. — You  "  make  "  cards  when  you  take  tricks  with 
them. 

MAKE  UP. — The  partner  of  the  dealer  makes  up  the 
pack  for  the  next  dealer. 


14  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

MASTER  CARD. — Any  card  of  a  suit  the  best  in  play. 

ODD  CARD.— When  A  B  take  seven  tricks,  C  D  six,  A  B 
are  said  to  have  the  odd  card. 

ODD  TRICK. — Synonymous  with  "  odd  card" 

OPENING. — You  "  open  "  a  suit  when  you  are  the  first 
to  lead  a  card  from  the  suit.  The  original 
leader  of  the  hand  is  said  to  open  the  hand. 

OUT. — The  cards  that  have  been  played  are  "  out  "of 
play. 

PARTIE. — A  series  of  games  or  rubbers  contested  by  the 
same  players  is  referred  to  as  &partie. 

PASS. — When  you  do  not  make  an  effort  to  take  a  trick, 
although  in  your  power  to  do  so,  you  are  said  to 
pass. 

PENULTIMATE. — Now  obsolete  ;  superseded  by  fourth 
best.  In  a  suit  of  ace,  7,  6,  5,  4,  3,  the  4  is  the 
penultimate,  the  5  is  the  ante -penultimate. 

PLAIN  SUIT. — A  suit  not  trump. 

PLAIN  SUIT  ECHO. — A  conventional  order  for  play  by 
third  hand  to  show  exactly  four  cards  of  the 
suit  led  by  partner  and  also  to  unblock,  usu- 
ally termed  unblocking.  See  "  unblocking  " 
(page  161). 

POINTS. — Each  trick  in  excess  of  six. 

QUART. — Four — four  cards  in  sequence. 

QUART  MAJOR. — Ace,  king,  queen,  knave  of  any  suit. 

QUINT. — Five  cards  in  sequence. 

QUITTED. — When  a  player's  hand  has  been  withdrawn 
from  a  trick,  after  turning  it  down  on  the  table, 
the  trick  is  "quitted." 

RE-ENTRY. — Gaining  possession  of  the  lead.  A  card 
of  re-entry  is  one  that  will  give  the  holder  the 
lead — usually  at  an  advanced  stage  of  the 
hand. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  15 

RENOUNCING. — Playing  a  card  of  a  plain  suit  other  than 
the  suit  led. 

REVOKE. — A  renounce  in  error  not  corrected  in  time, 
that  is,  playing  a  card  of  another  plain  suit,  yet 
holding  one  or  more  of  the  suit  led,  or  trump- 
ing a  trick  when  you  can  follow  suit.  See 
"  The  Laws  of  Whist." 

ROUND. — The  cards  played  to  the  card  led  ;  /.  ^.,  the 
cards  that  compose  the  trick,  hence  there  are. 
thirteen  tricks  or  rounds  in  each  hand. 

RUBBER. — Two  out  of  three  games,  or  two  in  succession. 

RUFFING. — Trumping  a  plain  suit  card. 

SCORE. — The  record  of  points  made  upon  the  game. 

SECOND  HAND. — The  hand  to  the  left  of  the  leader. 

SEE-SAW. — Alternate  trumping  by  partners.  See  "  Cross- 
ruff." 

SEQUENCE. — Two  or  more  cards  in  regular  order  as  to 
rank.  Ace,  king  is  a  sequence  of  two  cards. 
Three  in  sequence  is  a  tierce;  hence  ace,  king, 
queen  is  a  tierce .  major  ;  four,  a  quart ;  five,  a 
quint  sequence,  etc.  A  suit  of  ace,  king,  queen, 
3,  2,  contains  a  head  sequence  ;  ace,  knave,  10, 
9,  3,  an  intermediate  sequence  ;  ace,  9,  8,  7,  an 
under  sequence  ;  ace,  king,  queen,  9,  8,  7,  con- 
tains a  head  sequence  and  a  subordinate 
sequence. 

SHORT  SUIT. — One  of  less  than  four  cards. 

SIGNAL. — Synonymous  with  call  ;  t.e.,  to  play  ^^.unneces- 
sarily high  card  followed  by  a  smaller  one  of  the 
same  suit.  All  conventional  plays  are  signals — 
they  give  notice,  inform  of  certain  holding,  etc. 

SINGLE  DISCARD  CALL. — The  discard  of  an  8  or  higher 
card  of  a  suit  not  yet  in  play,  is  a  request  for 
trumps. 


l6  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST 

SINGLETON. — A  suit  of  which  you  hold  originally  but  one 

card. 
SUIT. — One  of  the  four  main  divisions  of  the  pack,  as 

the  club  suit. 

SMALL  CARDS. — All  the  cards  below  the  9. 
STRENGTHENING  CARD. — A  medium  high  card  led  to 

partner's   supposed    suit   (or   one   that   is  pro- 
claimed  as  his),  for  the  purpose  of  forcing  a 

higher  card — if  against — thus  making  partner's 

smaller  cards  of  the  suit  good. 
STRONG  SUIT. — A  suit  composed  of  both  high  cards  and 

numerical  strength. 
TENACE. — The  best  and  third-best  cards  of  a  suit  in  play 

is   a  major  tenace,  as   ace,  queen,   against   the 

minor  tenace  of  k,  kn — the   second   and  fourth 

best. 

THIRD  HAND. — The  leader's  partner. 
THIRTEENTH. — The  last  card  of  any  suit  in  play. 
THROWING  THE  LEAD. — Purposely  playing  a  losing  card 

that  you  may  not  remain  in  the  lead. 
TIERCE. — Sequence  of  three  cards,  as  tierce  to  king,  is — 

king,  queen  and  knave. 
TRICK. — The  four  cards  of  a  round — the  three  played  to 

the  card  led. 
TRUMPS. — All  the  cards  of  the   same  suit  as  the   card 

turned  by  dealer. 
TRUMP  CARD. — The  last  card  of  the  pack,  and   the  one 

the  dealer  turns  face  up  to  his  right. 
UNDERPLAY. — Playing  a  low  card  when  holding  a  higher 

one — refusing  to   take   a  trick.      Also    termed 

holding  up. 

WEAK  SUIT. — One  containing  few  or  no  high  cards. 
YARBOROUGH. — A  hand  in  which  all  the  cards  are  smaller 

than  the  10. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST 

The  Table. 


B 


D 


This  diagram  illustrates  the  table.  A  and  B  are  part- 
ners; C  and  D  the  opposing  partners.  D  is  the  dealer, 
and  A  the  leader,  when  not  otherwise  stated.  "  You  " 
generally  signifies  "A,"  and  "  B  "  means  your  partner. 
"  C  "  is  second  hand  to  the  original  lead,  "  B  "  third  hand, 
"  D  "  fourth  hand. 

Abbreviations. 

Spade  or  spades — "  s." 

Heart  or  hearts — "  h." 

Club  or  clubs—"  c." 

Diamond  or  diamonds — "  d." 

King— "k." 

Queen — "qu." 

Knave—"  kn." 

The  cards  below  the  knave 
digits— 10,  9,  8,  7,  6,  5,  4,  3,  2. 
called  the  Trey  and  Deuce. 


are    designated   by    the 
The  3   and   2   are    also 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE     FIRST    HAND     OR     LEAD. 

THE  theory  of  modern  scientific  whist  is  the  combina- 
tion of  forces  ;  this  demands  a  systematic  course  and 
affords  the  original  leader  of  the  hand  but  little  choice 
as  to  which  card  to  lead,  after  the  suit  has  been  deter- 
mined upon.  It  is  conventional  to  open  the  suit  that  has 
the  greatest  numerical  strength,  and  experience  has 
demonstrated  that  this  is  usually  best.  The  card  to  lead 
is  the  one  that  will  at  once  afford  the  most  information 
and  at  the  same  time  be  in  harmony  with  the  general 
order.  This  brings  the  whole  scheme  of  leading  within 
the  scope  of  general  principles,  and  makes  it  practicable 
to  prepare  a  table  of  leads  that  will  harmonize,  and  be 
applicable  to  all  but  exceptional  hands.  It  follows  that 
if  partners  adopt  the  same  system,  they  at  once  begin  to 
count  the  hands,  and  are  thus  enabled  to  combine  their 
forces  and  really  play  a  partnership  game.  Each  card 
thrown  will  carry  with  it  a  certain  amount  of  information, 
and  the  first  card  of  all  will  proclaim  almost  the  exact 
combination  led  from. 

A  table  embracing  all  the  leads  has  the  appearance  of 
being  extremely  complicated  and  intricate;  this  in  reality 
is  not  the  case.  There  are  635,013,559,600  possible 
hands  at  whist.  So  also  would  it  take  a  family  of  ten 
persons  sitting  at  dinner  3,628,800  days  or  nearly  10,000 
years  to  make  all  the  changes  possible  in  their  chairs  at 
the  table, — making  one  change  a  day.  On  the  same 
principle  the  five  highest  cards — ace,  king,  queen,  knave, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


ten — can  be  arranged  120  different  ways.  This  is  the 
mathematical  feature  of  it;  the  practical  part  of  it  is  that 
there  are  virtually  but  twelve  combinations  from  which  a 
high  card  is  led.  The  combinations  forming  the  basis 
for  the  high  card  leads  are  few,  their  possible  variations 
enormous. 

Each  of  the  following  "high"*  cards:  Ace,  king, 
queen,  knave,  10,  9,  with  the  exception  of  the  queen,  is 
led,  at  the  most,  from  only  two  combinations  (the  queen 
from  three).  The  "  middle  "  card,  the  8,  and  the  "  low  " 
cards — 7,  6,  5,  4,  3,  2,  are  led  from  all  other  combina- 
tions, and  are  always  led  (barring  exceptional  situations) 
as  fourth-best  cards — /.  e.,  the  leader  has  three  cards  in 
the  suit  higher  than  the  one  led. 

The  combinations  of  high  cards  which  form  the  basis 
of  all  high-card  leads  will  be  analyzed  before  giving  the 
leads  in  detail. 


This  card  is  led  from  two  combinations,  and  marks  five 
or  more  cards  in  suit,  or  ace,  queen,  knave,  four  or  more  in 
suit.  Here  are  the  two  combinations  from  which  the  ace 
is  led: 


2.- 


— and  any  one  or  more. 


— and  any  four  or  more  which  do  not  in- 
clude both  king  and  queen. 


*  The  student  is  referred  to  the  chapter  on  Technical  Terms,  in 
which  will  be  found  all  the  technical  terms  used  in  this  work, 
together  with  their  meaning. 


2O 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


No.  i. — In  this  combination  the  ace  is  led  when  ac- 
companied with  the  queen  and  knave,  even  if  only  four 
in  suit.  No.  2,  however,  forms  the  basis  of  all  the  nu- 
merous leads  of  this  card.  In  explanation  of  No  2,  the 
student  is  reminded  that  when  he  decides  to  open  a  suit 
of  five  or  more  cards,  the  ace  being  one,  and  the  suit 
not  containing  both  king  and  queen,  the  ace  is  the  card 
to  lead.  In  exceptional  hands  the  fourth  best  may  be 
led  from  ace  and  four  or  more  cards,  when  all  the  other 
cards  are  small  ones,  as — ace,  6,  5,  4,  3.  It  matters  not 
which  four  (or  more)  of  all  the  twelve  cards  of  the  suit 
are  with  the  ace — lead  ace;  so  that,  as  a  general  principle, 
to  know  when  it  is  conventional  to  lead  the  ace,  is  a  very 
simple  matter. 


The  king  is   led  originally  from  a  suit  of  exactly  four 
cards,  and  from  these  two  combinations  only  :— 


3-— 


4.— 


— and  any  two. 


— and  any  two. 


Here  again  the  student  is  reminded  how  simple  the 
general  rule  is  for  leading  the  king — there  must  be  four 
cards  only  of  the  suit,  and  the  king  must  invariably  be 
accompanied  by  either  ace  or  queen.  It  matters  not 
what  three  cards — high  or  low — are  with  the  king,  if 
the  ace  or  queen  is  one. 

The  old  lead  of  the  king  from  ace,  king — or  king, 
queen  and  more  than  two  others — is  now  obsolete.  The 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


21 


better  play  has  relegated  it  to  the  shelf  together  with  the 
many  good  things  that  the  better  things  have  crowded 
out. 


This  card  is  led  from  these  three  combinations : — 

— and  any  two  or  more  in 
which  the  knave  is  not 
included. 

—and  any  three  or  more  in  which 
the  knave  is  not  included. 

— and  any  one  or  more 
small,  including  the  9  as 
a  small  card. 

The  queen  announces  a  suit  of  five  cards  or  more 
(except  that  in  No.  7  there  may  be  only  four),  and 
declares  that  either  king,  or  ace,  king  are  in  hand.  If 
the  lead  is  from  No.  7,  the  fall  to  the  first  round  in  con- 
junction with  the  cards  partner  holds  in  the  suit  will 
nearly  always  show  it 


The  knave  is  led  from  two  combinations  : 
8.— 


gxB  — and  any   one    or 


more. 


8B&1      HOT 

||||||  — and  any  two  or  more. 


22 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


It  will  be  seen  that  the  knave  shows  the  king  and 
queen — possibly  the  ace  also,  and  proclaims  a  suit  of  at 
least  five  cards. 

Most  of  the  authorities,  and  many  of  the  finest  play- 
ers, have  abandoned  the  lead  of  the  knave  from  knave, 
10,  9,  etc.  Analysis  demonstrates  that  there  is  little  if  any 
advantage  in  favor  of  the  lead  of  the  knave  as  against 
the  fourth  best.  The  best  players  do  not  cover  the 
knave  second  hand  with  either  the  king  or  queen,  as  the 
ace  must  be  to  the  left,  thus  annulling  the  principal 
object  in  leading  the  knave  from  the  tierce  to  knave 
combination.  As  a  matter  of  taking  tricks  in  the  one 
suit,  the  lead  of  the  knave  may  perhaps  be  slightly  the 
better  lead.  In  the  majority  of  situations  it  is  immaterial  ; 
in  the  others  the  combinations  in  favor  of  the  knave  or 
the  fourth  best  are  about  equally  divided.  The  object 
in  abandoning  the  lead  of  the  knave  from  the  head  of  a 
sequence  is  found. in  the  fact  that  it  greatly  simplifies 
the  play  of  third  hand  and  removes — practically — all 
duality  of  inference.  The  trend  of  modern  whist,  in 
the  matter  of  high-card  leads,  is  in  the  direction  of  sim- 
plification ;  and  perfection  seems  to  have  been  reached 
in  this  regard,  for  the  high-card  leads,  as  now  favored, 
herald  almost  the  exact  holding. 


This  card  is  led  from  one  combination  only  : — 


10. — 


*** 

*** 

*** 
*** 


— and  any  one  or  more 
small  —  including  the  9 
as  a  small  card. 


The  lead  of  the  10  marks  the  king,  knave,  and  denies 
the  ace  and  queen. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


The  nine  is  led  from  two  combinations  and  shows- 
like  the  king — exactly  four  cards  : — 


ii. — 


12. 


*      * 

** 
*** 


:*: 

*  * 


— only. 


— only. 


The  9 'marks  the  ace,  10,  and  either  queen  or  knave. 

The  following  table  shows  in  condensed  form  the 
twelve  combinations  which  are  the  basis  of  all  the  high- 
card  leads. 

Table  of  Leads,  No.  I. 


LEAD 

FROM 

Ace. 

i 

2 

Ace,  qu,  kn  —  and  any  one  or  more. 
Ace  —  and  any  four  or  more  which  do  not 
include  both  kg  and  qu. 

King. 

3 

4 

Ace,  kg  —  and  any  two. 
King,  qu  —  and  any  two. 

Queen. 

5 
6 

7 

Ace,  kg,  qu  —  and  any  two   or  more  in 
which  the  kn  is  not  included. 
King,   qu  —  and  any   three    or    more   in 
which  the  kn  is  not  included. 
Queen,  kn,  10  —  and  one  or  more  small. 

Knave. 

8 
9 

Ace,  kg,  qu,  kn  —  and  any  one  or  more. 
King,  qu,  kn  —  and  any  two  or  more. 

10. 

10 

King,  kn,  10  —  and  any  one  or  more  (in- 
cluding the  9). 

9- 

ii 

12 

Ace,  qu,  10,  9  —  only. 
Ace,  kn,  10,  9—  only. 

24  MODERN   SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

The  Fourth  Best. 

The  8,  7,  6,  5,  4,  3,  2  are  led,  as  original  leads, 
only  as  fourth-best  cards,  and,  as  in  the  case  of  a  high  card 
being  led,  represent  the  best  suit  in  hand.  The  leader 
has  exactly  three  cards  in  the  suit  higher  in  rank 
than  the  card  led  ;  and  an  inference  is  that  these 
three  cards  are  not  high  cards  in  sequence.  When 
a  low  card  (plain  suit)  is  led  originally,  the  leader  can- 
not hold  of  the  suit  led,  ace  and  king;  king  and  queen; 
queen,  knave  and  10  ;  or  king,  knave,  10  ;  the  ace  is  also 
denied  if  the  fall  shows  that  the  leader  has  any.  card  of 
the  suit  lower  than  the  card  led,  as  with  more  than  four 
the  ace  is  led. 


:*: 


The  8  is  the  seventh  card  in  rank  counting  from  either 
end  of  the  suit,  hence  it  is  termed  the  "  middle  card." 
It  follows  that  there  are  six  cards  higher  than  this  card, 
and,  when  the  8  is  led  originally,  three  of  these  higher 
cards  must  be  in  the  leader's  hand.  This  card  is  led  from 
ten  combinations,  five  of  which  are  from  exactly  four  in 
suit,  the  ace  at  the  head.  The  student  cannot  become 
too  familiar  with  the  rank  of  the  different  cards.  It  is 
this  familiarity  that  enables  the  expert  to  draw  inferences 
rapidly,  and  with  but  little  mental  effort.  In  the  play  of 
a  single  hand  at  Whist  there  are  so  many  things  to  note, 
and  so  many  inferences  to  draw,  that  few  players  ever 
become  very  proficient.  This  is  in  a  large  measure  due 
to  the  fact  that  few  take  the  comparatively  little  pains 
necessary  to  know  all  about  the  rank  and  value  of  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


different  cards.  Most  people  who  play  Whist  seem  to 
prefer  to  rest  satisfied  with  an  informal  introduction,  as 
it  were,  to  the  cards,  and  never  get  upon  intimate  terms 
with  them. 

There  are  ten  combinations  from  which  the  8  is  led,  as 
shown  by  the  following  tabulation: 

Eight  Leads. 


FROM 

LEAD 

I.. 

Ace,  qu,  10... 

8 

2.. 

Ace,  qu,  9  

8 

3-- 

Ace,  kn,  10.  .. 

8 

4-- 

Ace,  kn,  9  

8 

$-- 

Ace,  10,  9  

8 

6.. 

Kg,  kn,  9  

8* 

7-- 

Kg,    10,  9  

8* 

8.. 

Qu,  kn,  9  

8* 

9-- 

Qu,   10,  9.  

8* 

10.. 

Kn,   10,  9.  

8* 

*  The  combinations  Nos.  6  to  10  inclusive,  may  be  of  exactly 
four  cards  or  anv  one  of  them  may  contain  any  or  all  of  the  cards 
smaller  than  the  8. 

These  leads  of  the  8  will  repay  careful  analysis.  Note 
that  of  the  ten  leads  five  are  from  exactly  four  cards,  and 
that  if  a  card  is  added  lower  than  the  8  to  any  of  these 
five  combinations,  then  the  ace  must  be  led  ;  if  a  card 
higher  than  the  8  is  added,  the  combination  becomes  one 
of  the  twelve  found  in  table  No.  i  (page  23),  and  a  high 
card  must  be  led.  Note  also,  that  if  any  player  holds  the 
ace  and  9  ;  10  and  9  ;  ace,  kn,  9  ;  qu,  kn,  9,  etc.,  to  the  8 
led  in  plain  suit,  that  the  lead  is  forced,  and  that  the  leader 
cannot  have  three  cards  higher  than  the  one  led. 

This  immediate   information   may   be   very  valuable. 


26  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Suppose  A  gets  in  after  a  round  or  two,  and  leads  the  8, 
and  B  holds  the  ace  and  9  or  the  10  and  9,  he  knows  at 
once  that  A  has,  owing  to  his  particular  situation,  made  a 
forced  lead  and  that  the  8  must  be  at  the  head  of  two  or 
three,  or  perhaps  a  singleton.  Examine  a  little  deeper 
into  this  table  and  it  will  be  seen  that  there  are  just  20 
possible  combinations  of  three  cards  higher  than  the  8, 
and  the  leader  (leading  the  8)  can  hold  just  half  of  these, 
and  that  there  are  ten  he  cannot  hold.  This  knowledge 
can  be  utilized  in  determining  whether  the  lead  is  regular 
or  forced.  B,  holding  three  cards  higher  than  the  8,  knows, 
of  course,  if  the  lead  of  the  8,  by  A,  is  regular,  that  the  8 
will  hold  the  trick.  But  suppose  B's  three  cards  are  not 
headed  by  the  ace  or  king,  he  then  knows  that  the  lead 
is  forced,  and  it  may  be  best  for  his  hand  that  he  does 
not  pass.  For  instance  if  a  player  holds  ace,  k,  9  ;  ace, 
qu,  9  ;  ace,  kn,  10  ;  ace,  kn,  9  ;  k,  10,  9,  or  any  three 
headed  by  the  qu  or  kn,  he  knows  at  once  that  the  lead 
of  the  8  is  forced  and  plays  accordingly. 

Take  the  case  of  B  holding  the  ace,  k,  9  and  one  or  more 
small,  A  leading  the  8;  if  B  passes,  thinking  the  8  must  win 
the  trick,  B  holding  three  cards  higher  than  the  8,  B  defers 
to  the  third  round  the  bringing  home  of  his  ace;  and  in  the 
event  of  the  8  losing  to  fourth  hand,  B  may  lose  a  trick  ; 
besides  A  may  have  led  the  8  from  two  cards  only,  and 
if  B  plays  king  and  then  leads  ace,  A  may  wish  to  trump 
the  third  round,  having  led  the  forced  lead  for  this 
purpose,  trumps,  for  instance,  having  been  declared 
against. 

The  point  is  that  a  player  must  not  pass  an  8  led  by 
partner  simply  because  he  has  three  cards  of  the  suit 
higher,  if  he  can  determine  from  his  hand  that  the  lead 
is  forced.  Many  players  fail  to  make  all  the  use  avail- 
able of  the  fourth-best  principle,  and  this  is  particularly 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


true  when  a  card  so  high  in  rank  as  the  8,  7  or  6  is 
led. 

Again  :  Suppose  B  holds  the  qu,  kn  ;  qu,  10  ;  qu,  9; 
kn,  10 ;  kn,  9  or  10  and  one  or  more  small,  to  the  lead 
of  the  8  by  A  (as  the  original  lead  of  the  hand),  B 
should  know  instantly  that  either  ace  or  king  is  against 
and  that  the  8  must  force  one  of  these  cards  or  hold  the 
trick.  It  would  be  folly  to  put  up  the  qu,  kn,  10,  or  9 
unless  he  wished  to  make  an  effort  to  gain  the  lead. 
(See  "  Third  Hand.") 

The  student  will  see  that  there  are  many  inferences  to 
be  drawn  from  the  lead  of  the  eight,  and  that  the  table 
of  eight  leads  is  well  worth  careful  study. 


A      A 
A     A 


*     * 

* 

A      A 


These  cards  like  the  8,  are  all  led  as  fourth-best  cards, 
disregarding  the  card  or  cards  that  may  be  held  lower 
than  the  one  led.  All  the  combinations  from  which  the 
7  is  led,  follow  in  tabular  form.  These  tables,  showing 
the  various  leads  of  the  8  and  7,  will  be  useful  when  the 
play  of  the  second  hand  is  under  analysis. 

The  possible  combinations  multiply  as  you  descend 
the  scale.  For  instance  the  10  is  led  from  one  combina- 
tion, the  9  from  two;  the  8  from  ten  and  the  7  from 
twenty-three,  and  this,  too,  without  regard  to  the  one  or 
more  cards  that  may  be  held  below  the  fourth-best  card. 
This  table, like  the  preceding  one,will  repay  careful  study, 
for  the  7  is  a  card  of  high  rank  (as  a  fourth-best  card), 
and  the  inferences  that  may  sometimes  be  drawn  are  very 
valuable.  (See  "  analysis  of  the  second  and  third  hand  " 
— the  8  and  7  led.) 


MODERN   SCIENTIFIC   WHIST. 
Seven  Leads. 


FROM 

LEAD 

FROM 

LEAD 

Ace,  qu,  10. 

7 

Kg,  10,  8... 

7* 

Ace,  qu,  9.. 

7 

Kg,  9,  8.... 

7* 

Ace,  qu,  8.  . 

7 

Ou,  kn,  9... 

7* 

Ace,  kn,  10. 

7 

Qu,  kn,  8... 

7* 

Ace,  kn,  9.. 

7 

Qu,  10,  9.  .. 

7* 

Ace,  kn,  8.. 

7 

Qu,  10,  8... 

7* 

Ace,  10,  9.. 

7 

Qu,  9,  8.... 

7* 

Ace,  10,  8.  . 

7 

Kn,  10,  9.  .  . 

7* 

Ace,  9,  8... 

7 

Kn,  10,  8.  .. 

7* 

Kg,  kn,  9.  .  . 

7* 

Kn,  9,8  

7* 

Kg.kn.8... 

7* 

10,  9,  8  

7* 

Kg,  10,  9.  .  . 

7* 

*  When  the  ace  does  not  head  the  suit,  there  may  be  one  or  more 
cards  lower  than  the  7,  and  these  may,  of  course,  beany  one  or 
more  of  all  the  smaller  cards. 


When  this  card  of  lowest  rank  is  led  as  an  original 
lead  it  is,  as  a  rule,  an  announcement  of  weakness.  It 
marks,  of  course,  a  suit  of  exactly  four  cards  and,  bar- 
ring exceptional  hands,  the  leader  can  have  no  plain  suit 
of  more  than  four  cards;  he  cannot  have  ace,  kg  ;  kg, 
qu  ;  or  qu,  kn,  10  of  any  suit  of  four  cards.  As  an 
original  trump  lead,  the  leader  shows  (as  a  rule)  three 
plain  suits  of  three  cards  each  and  four  trumps.  This 
little  deuce  has  quite  an  interesting  story  to  relate  when  it 
goes,  first  of  all,  into  the  breach. 

That  the  analyses  of  leads  in  detail,  showing  the  leads 
— first  and  second — may  be  readily  understood,  it  is 
best  to  first  critically  examine  the  three  cardinal  princi- 
ples of  American  Leads.  There  are  three  modes  of 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


29 


opening  a  strong  suit,  viz.  : 
card  followed  by  low  card, 
high  card. 


T.  Low  card  led.     2.  High 
3.  High  card  followed  by 


Low  Card  Led. 

i. — When  you  open  a  suit  with  a  LOW 
CARD,  lead  your  FOURTH  BEST. 

This  maxim  has  been  briefly  examined  (pages  24  to  26), 
and  now  a  few  examples  showing  the  practical  working 
of  this  important  principle  are  given. 

Suppose  the  following  : — 


c 

B 
A 

D 

*      + 
*     * 

**** 

* 
•>*** 

* 

*       * 
*       * 

18 

*A* 

*** 

*** 
*** 

*** 
*   * 

*** 

*  * 
*  * 
*   * 

* 
* 
* 

:i 

i. — A  leads  6  ;  C  plays  4  ;  B  plays  qu  ;  D  plays  5. 

B  reads  A  with  three  cards  higher  than  the  6,  and  (bar 
calling)  he  knows  that  A  has  led  from  a  six-card  suit,  for 
the  trey  and  deuce  must  be  with  A.  B  also  knows 
that  the  ace  is  with  C,  for  if  A  held  the  ace  (six  in  suit) 
he  would  have  led  ace,  not  fourth  best.  B  can  read 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


that  D  can  have  but  one  more  card  of  the  suit,  and  if  he 
(D)  follows  to  the  next  trick  the  suit  will  be  established. 

This  information  afforded  so  early  in  the  play  of  the 
suit  may  be  very  valuable  to  B. 

2. — B  leads  k  ;  D  plays  9  ;  A  plays  3  ;  C  plays  ace. 

A  is  marked  with  the  kn,  10,  8,  2.  If  A  opens  with 
the  trey  or  deuce  the  fall  is  the  same  as  when  the  6  is 
led,  but  it  will  afford  B  little  information,  and  even  after 
the  second  round,  B  cannot  read  A  with  command. 

Again  : — 


:*: 
:*: 

*** 

v 
*** 

*** 
*  * 

*  * 

* 
+ 

B 


C 


D 


*    * 

**+ 

*** 


*    * 


*    * 


T. — A  leads  5  ;  C  plays  6  ;  B  plays  7  ;  D  plays  3. 

When  C  played  the  6,  B  could  read  that  A's  lead  was 
from  exactly  ace,  qu,  9,  5,  and  that  C  (if  not  calling) 
held  king  single,  or  was  void  of  the  suit.  B  plays  the  7, 
knowing  that  it  must  hold  the  trick  or  force  the  king. 
The  7  holding  the  trick,  marks  C  with  king,  and  B  knows 
at  once  that  the  suit  is  established. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Once  more  : — 


*A* 

* 

*  '  + 
*A* 

*** 

* 
*      * 


*  * 

*  * 


*  *  * 

**** 


|¥W"|  ^^ 

Fft1    v 


B 


*  * 

**  + 

4»^  •  + 

*  * 


D 


*    * 

*** 


i. — A  leads  8  ;  C  plays  5  ;  B  plays  ace  ;  D  plays  4. 

B  reads  at  once  that  A  has  led  from  k,  kn,  9,  8,  2,  or 
qu,  kn,  9,  8,  2. 

2. — B  leads  10  ;  D  plays  qu  ;  A  plays  k  ;  C  plays  6. 

B  reads  that  the  suit  is  established.  Had  A  started 
with  the  deuce,  B  could  not  have  read  the  location  of 
any  one  card,  even  after  the  second  round. 

The  student  may  be  reminded  that  such  marked  ad- 
vantages do  not  always  attend  the  lead  of  the  fourth- 
best  card,  and  that  not  infrequently  the  opponents  profit 
by  the  information  afforded. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Take  this  case  : — 


*  * 

*  * 

*  * 


* 


* 


**** 
* 


B 


D 


*  *  * 


**: 
:*: 


i. — A  leads  7  ;  C  plays  4  ;  B  plays  k  ;  D  plays  3. 
C  reads  the  qu,  10,  8,  in  A's  hand,  and  if  A  next  leads 
the  suit  C  is  directed  to  a  safe  finesse. 
Or  again  : — 


*   * 


;<  *  * 
*  * 
h  ^  4 


B 


D 


** 

*** 
*** 


*      * 


V 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  33 

i; — A  leads  7  ;  C  plays  8  ;  B  plays  4  ;  D  plays  5. 

Here  the  lead  of  the  7,  the  fourth-best,  directs  second 
hand  to  cover  with  the  8,  saving  D's  king,  and  if  the 
king  is  with  B  no  harm  is  done. 

The  lead  of  the  fourth-best  often  enables  second 
hand  to  make  a  sure  finesse  or  a  judicious  cover  (see  the 
play  of  second  hand,  the  8  and  7  led),  and  in  various 
ways  the  opponents  may  gain  an  advantage  in  conse- 
quence of  the  precise  information  afforded.  Still  this 
mode  of  opening  a  suit  has  been  tested  by  careful  and 
thorough  analysis  and  the  balance  of  advantage  unques- 
tionably lies  with  the  play  of  the  fourth  best. 

High  card  led  {followed  by  low  card). 

2. — When  you  open  a  strong  suit  with  the 
ACE,  KING  or  QUEEN,  and  next  lead  a 
LOW  CARD,  lead  your  FOURTH-BEST 
counting  from  and  including  the  card  first  led. 

This  maxim  comes  into  force  when  the  following  com- 
binations are  held,  and  only  when  the  first  lead  wins  the 
trick. 

Ace  and  four — in  trumps,  six — or  more  small  cards. 

King,  queen  and  exactly  two  small  cards  (in  trumps 
five  or  more  small). 

King,  queen  and  three — in  trumps,  five — or  more  small 
cards. 

Combinations  from  which  the  knave,  ten  or  nine  is  led, 
are  not  included  in  this  group,  as  then  the  maxim  does  not 
apply.  The  knave,  when  led  from  strength,  is  always 
followed  by  a  higher  card  than  the  knave.  The  nine 
when  led  from  strength  is  likewise  followed  by  a  higher 
card.  The  ten  is  a  special  lead,  and  unlike  all  other 
high-card  leads,  does  not  give  information  as  to  numeri- 
cal strength,  When  this  maxim  is  applied  to  the  case  of 


34 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


10  winning,  from  k,  kn,  10,  it  has  no  practical  value,  as 
the  lead  must  be  from  six  or  more  in  suit  in  order  to 
follow  the  rule.  Besides  partner  could  rarely,  if  ever, 
read  that  the  leader  had  followed  the  maxim  even  when 
the  latter  held  a  sufficient  number  of  cards  to  do  so.  This 
lead  and  its  correct  follow  will  be  examined  later  on. 

The  first  and  the  last  combinations  given  above  are 
practically  the  only  ones  subject  to  the  second  maxim  of 
American  Leads  ;  for  in  the  case  of  the  king  lead  there 
can  be  but  four  cards  in  suit  and  the  lead  per  se  an- 
nounces the  exact  numerical  strength,  and  if  a  low  card 
is  next  led,  it  is  obviously  the  lowest  of  the  suit — /.  e.,  the 
fourth-best.  This  combination  may  be  dismissed  with  a 
single  illustration.  As  : — 


*** 
*** 

*&* 
**_* 


B 


1) 


*  * 

*** 
*** 

*  * 


*;* 

:*: 


i. — A  leads  k  ;  C  plays  2  ;  B  plays  6  ;  D  plays  3. 
The  king  winning,  the  ace  is  supposed  to  be  with  B. 
When  the  k  loses  the  next  lead  is,  of  course,  the  qu. 
2. — A  leads  8  ;  C  plays  7  ;  B  plays  ace  ;   D  plays  4. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


35 


A  is  marked  with  the  queen  and  one  card  higher  than 
the  8,  and  the  cards  are  so  distributed  that  B  can  read 
that  A  has  the  9,  and  D  the  5.  The  knave  may  be  with 
either  C  or  D. 

The  leads — ace,  then  low  ;  queen  (winning),  then  low, 
are  shown  in  the  following  table  : — 


FROM 

LEAD 

THEN 

Ace.. 

10  8 

7 

6 

Ace  

10  8 

7 

6  •> 

Ace  

10  8 

7 

6  5  4 

(a)  King.. 

Queen  

10  8 

7 

King.. 

Queen  

10  8 

7 

6 

King.. 

Queen  .  .  . 

10  8 

7 

6  5 

(a)  If  the  qu  loses  to  the  ace,  the  second  lead  is,  of 
course,  tJie  king. 

In  each  instance  the  second  lead  is  the  fourth-best 
card,  counting  from,  and  including,  the  card  first  led, 
irrespective  of  the  number  of  cards  in  the  suit.  The 
object  of  this  is  to  inform  partner  that  you  have  two 
cards  of  intermediate  rank  between  the  first  and  second 
cards  led.  This  usually,  in  practise,  informs  the  lead- 
er's partner  of  the  exact  rank  of  these  two  cards,  as  well 
as  of  the  numerical  strength  of  the  suit.  It  is  true  that 
this  exact  information  is  often  given  to  the  opponents  as 
well,  but,  notwithstanding,  it  is  the  experience  of  most 
players  that  it  is  a  decided  advantage,  in  the  majority  of 
cases,  to  publish  the  information. 

The  entire  system  of  modern  whist  is  based  upon  the 
principle  of  imparting  by  your  play  the  greatest  amount 
of  information  possible.  Exceptional  situations  often 
arise  where  a  shrewd  player  will  withhold  information, 


36  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

when  it  is  obvious  that  partner  is  not  in  a  position  to 
profit  by  it  while  his  opponents  are. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  at  all  times  all  rules  stand 
second  to  the  fall  of  the  cards. 

Keep  in  view  the  fact  that  there  are  such  things  as 
exceptional  situations,  and  that  all  rules  and  maxims  are 
intended  to  cover  situations  that  usually  occur  ;  the  un- 
usual situations  must  be  met  by  the  individual  ingenuity 
and  whist  perception  of  the  player. 

Queen,  then  Low. 

The  lead  of  queen  (the  queen  winning),  then  fourth- 
best  will  now  be  examined.  Objections  have  been  urged 
against  the  adoption  of  the  second  maxim  of  American 
Leads,  as  well  as  against  the  recent  innovation  of  Mr.  N.  B. 
Trist,  the  inventor  of  these  leads,  of  leading  the  fourth- 
best,  after  winning  queen,  counting  from  and  including 
the  card  first  led.  Formerly  the  original  fourth-best  was 
led.  As: — k,  qu,  10,  8,  7;  the  qu,  then  8  was  led.  It  is 
now  proposed  to  lead  qu  then  7,  thus  showing  two  cards 
of  intermediate  rank  between  the  queen  and  the  card 
selected  for  the  second  lead. 

There  are  advantages  in  favor  of  this  mode  of  opening 
this  combination  as  compared  with  queen  then  original 
fourth-best.  It  will  be  found  upon  analysis  that  the 
lead  of  the  original  fifth-best,  after  queen  winning,  will 
often  yield  information  that  the  lead  of  the  fourth-best 
will  withhold,  and  no  disadvantages  attend  the  play. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


37 


Suppose  the  following  : — 


B 


C 


D 


**  + 

*•  * 

** 


** 


4-^Aj  pr~* 

*    4.1  I*;   * 


All*    * 


i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  3  ;  B  plays  5  ;  D  plays  4. 

2. — A  leads  9  ;  C  trumps  ;  B  plays  ace  ;  D  plays  7. 

B  can  read  that  A  has  k,  10,  6,  2,  yet  in  hand,  but  the 
8  may  be  with  D,  and  if  so  A  has  not  command.  But 
suppose: — 

2. — A  leads  8 — the  k,  10,  9,  are  now  marked  with  A, 
and  C  renouncing  and  the  7  falling  from  D,  marks  the  6, 
2  also  with  leader,  and  D  can  have  but  the  kn,  single. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Again: — 


*   * 

* 

* 

4»** 

4.    4- 

* 

B 


:* 

*  4. 


D 


*** 

4.  4. 
4.  4. 

4.  4. 
4.  4. 
4.  4. 

I. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  TO  ;  B  plays  2  ;  D  plays  4. 

2. — A  leads  6  ;  C  trumps  ;  B  plays  ace ;  D  plays  5. 

B  can  read  that  A  has  the  k,  8,  7,  2  (bar  the  possibil- 
ity of  D  calling)  and  he  plays  the  ace,  as  D's  kn,  which 
must  be  unguarded,  will  fall  to  A's  k  and  the  suit  is 
cleared.  If  A  follows  the  qu  with  the  7,  the  original 
fourth-best,  B  cannot  read  that  D  has  not  the  6. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


39 


A  trick  may  also  be  lost,  due  to  the  sacrifice  of  the 
fourth-best  card,  as  the  following  position  demon- 
strates:— 


i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  5  ,  B  plays  7  ;  D  plays  3. 

2. — A  leads  9  ;  C  renounces  ;  B  plays  ace  ;  D 
plays  4. 

If  A  is  forced  to  next  lead  the  suit,  D  may  make  his 
kn,  8.  But  if  A  follows  the  qu  with  his  fifth-best  card— 
the  2 — D  cannot  possibly  make  but  a  single  trick.  A  may 
lose  a  trick  by  following  the  qu  with  Ins  original  fourth- 
best,  even  though  he  sacrifices  no  higher  card  than  the  6, 
as: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


*** 

* 

*  * 

*** 

B 


D 


i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  2  ;  B  play's  8  ;  D  plays  9. 
2. — A  leads  6 ;  C  plays  3  ;  B  plays  ace  ;  D  discards. 

3.  (C   to  lead).— C  leads  10  ;  B  and   D  discard  ;  A 
plays  k. 

4.  (A  to  lead). — A  leads — C  must  make  the  kn,  5. 
Here,  C  makes  two  tricks  in  the  suit,  even  though  he 

leads  at  trick  three  ;  and  if  A  leads  at  trick  three,  Cmust 
make  two  tricks,  no  matter  who  next  leads  the  suit.  But, 
on  the  other  hand,  suppose: — 

2. — A  leads  4  ;  C  plays  3  ;  B  plays  ace  ;  D  discards. 

Now  if  C  next  leads  the  suit  he  takes  but  the  single  trick. 

3.  (A  to  lead). — A  leads   6  ;  C  plays   10  ;    B  and   D 
discard. 

4.  (C  to  lead). — C   leads  to  a  tenace  and  must  lose 
both  tricks.      The  possibility  of  loss,  in   each   of    the 
instances  pointed  out,  is,  of  course,  remote  ;  but  it  is  in 
the  cards. 

The  feature  of  protection  does  not  apply  here  with 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  41 

any  force,  for  except  in  rare  cases,  if  the  queen  wins,  the 
ace  is  with  partner,  as  it  is  exceptional  for  the  opponents 
to  refuse  to  take  the  qu,  with  a  hand  sufficiently  strong 
in  the  suit  to  gain  through  the  next  lead  of  the  fifth- 
best. 

For  example  : — 


* 

* 

* 

__*!_ 

_*_ 

B 


i.— A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  5  ;  B  plays  2  ;  D  plays  7. 

D  might  be  induced  to  hold  up  the  ace,  especially  if 
strong  enough  in  trumps  to  desire  them  led — as  it  would 
suggest  to  A  the  advisibility  of  a  trump  lead  to  protect 
his  suit,  which  inferentially  is  established.  Besides  D 
can  read  that  if  A  next  leads  his  original  fifth  best  (bar 
trumps)  his  8  is  likely  to  win  the  second  round. 

2. — A  leads  4  ;  C  plays  6  ;  B  plays  3  ;  D  plays  8. 

And  D  must  win  two  tricks — three  if  A  next  leads  the 
suit.  If  A  follows  with  the  9,  D  cannot  take  but  two 


42  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

tricks.  In  plain  suits,  it  is,  however,  rarely  good  play  to 
pass  the  queen,  and  it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the 
leader  is  always  at  liberty  to  depart  from  rule,  if  the  fall 
is  exceptional.  This  phase  of  the  question,  protection, 
may  be  dismissed  as  having  no  weight.  The  questions 
of  unblocking  and  showing  command  are  likewise  hardly 
worth  consideration.  The  advantage  of  leading  as 
proposed  may  be  said  to  rest  solely  upon  the  ground 
of  enabling  partner  to  count  the  hands  ;  and  in  the 
opinion  of  the  writer  this  is  alone  sufficient  reason  for 
the  adoption  of  the  lead  of  the  original  fifth-best  after  a 
winning  queen,  or  to  word  it  so  that  it  covers  the  case  of 
the  ace — the  "fourth-best  counting  from  and  including 
the  card  first  led." 

Ace,  then  Low. 

In  the  case  of  the  ace,  then  low,  the  questions  of 
unblocking,  protection,  exhibiting  command,  showing 
numerical  strength  and  adverse  finessing,  all  arise.  Each 
must  be  taken  into  consideration.  An  exhaustive 
analysis  on  this  subject  cannot  be  given  here,  but  the 
writer  believes  that  the  balance  of  advantage  lies  with 
the  mode  of  leading  as  laid  down  in  the  maxim.  Uni- 
formity and  simplicity  impart  strength  to  a  rule  or  a 
system.  And  it  is  admitted  by  those  who  have  given 
this  maxim  of  American  Leads  the  most  careful  exam- 
ination, that  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  attending 
the  practical  working  of  this  rule,  are  nearly  equal.  This 
mode  of  leading — ace,  then  fourth-best — has  been  adopted 
(in  America)  by  the  most  advanced  players,  and  the 
rank  and  file  as  well,  and  this,  in  the  author's  opinion, 
is  an  evidence  of  its  soundness. 

It  may,  however,  be  well  to  append  a  few  examples 
illustrating  the  disadvantages  of  the  practical  applica- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


43 


tion  of  this  maxim  when  applied  to  the  lead  of  ace,  then 
low. 

Suppose  this  case: — 


*** 
*** 


*   * 

*&* 
*** 

4.      ^. 


B 


*** 


D 


*** 

•?•     * 

*__*!  !*_*!  _*__ 


*  * 
!*_* 

4- 
_*_ 

i. — A  leads  ace  ;  C  plays  6  :  B  plays  3  ;  D  plays  5. 

2. — A  leads  7  ;  C  plays  k  ;  B  plays  9  ;   D  plays  kn. 

The  lead  of  the  7,  the  fourth-best,  marks  A  with  two 
cards  higher,  and  the  fall  shows  B  that  these  two  are  the 
qu,  8,  and  as  the  4,  2,  did  not  fall  to  the  first  trick,  B 
reads  them  with  A. 

Had  A  in  trick  2  led  the  lowest  of  the  suit,  then,  so  far 
as  B  could  read,  the  queen  could  be  with  D.  Here  the 
lead  of  the  fourth-best  after  ace,  not  only  shows  partner 
that  the  leader  has  command,  but  the  numerical  strength 
of  the  suit  as  well.  In  this  instance,  and  in  all  similar 


44 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


combinations,  there  is  a  decided  advantage  in  the  second 
lead  of  \htfourth-best. 
Again: — 


*  * 

+   * 

? 

*  * 

* 

* 

*_* 

*_-* 

__*_ 

c 


B 


D 


***! 


*;* 

V 
*•>•* 


i. — A  leads  ace  ;  C  plays  9  ;  B  plays  3  ;  D  plays  2. 

2. —  If  A  now  leads  the  lowest  card,  the  7  wins  the 
trick  and  a  trick  is  lost.  The  lead  of  the  fourth-best,  in 
this  instance,  is  a  protection,  as  it  forces  an  honor  from 
D.  There  is  always  a  probability  that  the  leader  may 
find  partner  weak  in  his — the  leader's — suit,  and  if  a  lower 
card  than  the  fourth-best  is  led  on  the  second  round  it 
may  fall  to  a  very  small  card,  leaving  master  cards  in 
against  him,  as  in  the  above  illustration. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


45 


Again  : — 


*"*][-* 

* 

*     *        A 


B 


I) 


* 


j*    *    4. 

L  ** 


4-  ' 

*A* 

4»  4 


*** 
v 


*      * 


i. — A  leads  ace  ;  C  plays  9  ;  B  plays  3  ;  D  plays  2. 

2. — A  leads  8  ;  C  plays  k  ;  B  plays  qu  ;   D  plays  6. 

B  can  read  that  A  has  the  kn,  10,  and,  of  course, 
throws  the  queen,  that  he  may  not  block  A's  suit.  Had 
A  followed  the  ace  with  the  5,  B  must  have  played  4,  as 
the  kn  could  be  with  the  opponents.  Note  that  A  can 
read  that  B  has  the  4.  But  if  the  4  and  6  change  places, 
then  A  cannot  read  B  with  the  third  card  of  the  suit. 
This  position  illustrates  the  advantages  in  favor  of  the 
lead  of  the  fourth-best  as  to  unblocking.  It  is  true  that 
the  value  of  unblocking,  due  to  the  lead  of  the  fourth- 
best,  is  not  of  much  consequence,  yet,  slight  as  it  is,  it 
favors  the  maxim. 


46 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


The  disadvantages  that  attend  the  play  are  found  in 
positions  similar  to  the  following  : — 


i. — A  leads  ace  ;  C  plays  2  ;  B  plays  4  ;  D  plays  5. 

2. — A  leads  8  ;   C  plays  9  ;  B  plays  7  ;   D  plays  6. 

The  precise  information  afforded  by  the  lead  of  the  8 
directs  C  to  a  safe  finesse.  Had  A  followed  with  the  3 
C  must  have  played  qu. 

Sometimes  it  is  to  the  advantage  of  the  opponents  to 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


47 


be  able  to  read  the  exact  number  of  cards  from  which 
the  leader  has  led.     For  example  : — 


I*** 


*+ 


*  * 


*  * 


i. — A  leads  ace  ;  C  plays  5  ;  B  plays  3  ;  D  plays  9. 

2. — A  leads  6  ;  C  plays  qu  ;  B  plays  4  ;  D  discards. 

C  can  read  that  A  has  opened  from  exactly  five  cards, 
and  that  B  must  have  another  card  of  the  suit.  C  can 
safely  lead  the  k,  knowing  that  B  must  follow.  Had  A 
followed  the  ace  with  the  deuce,  C  could  not  read  B  with 
another  card  of  the  suit. 

Ten,  then  Low. 

When  10  is  led,  as  an  original  lead,  from  more  than 
four  in  suit,  and  wins  the  trick,  the  second  lead,  in  the 
writer's  opinion,  should  be  the  original  fourth-best,  and 
not  the  lowest  of  the  suit.  The  10  winning  the  trick, 
the  nature  of  the  combination  led  from  and  the  position 
of  all  the  high  cards  are  proclaimed  ;  for  if  the  play  to 


48 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


the  10  is  correct,  third  hand  must  hold  ace,  qu,  or  qu  of 
the  suit,  and  the  only  high  card  that  can  be  against 
leader  is  the  ace  in  second  hand. 

When  10  wins  the  trick,  it  is  immaterial  as  far  as  the 
making  of  tricks  in  this  suit  is  concerned,  whether  the 
leader  selects  the  lowest  or  the  original  fourth-best  for 
his  second  lead,  as  adverse  finessing,  unblocking  and 
protection  do  not  play  a  part.  The  only  object  the 
leader  has  in  the  lead  of  the  fourth-best,  is  to  enable 
partner  to  count  the  number  of  cards  held  in  the  suit. 
It  is  clearly  an  advantage  for  partner  to  be  able  to  read 
the  numerical  strength  of  an  established  suit  as  early  as 
the  second  round. 

Suppose  the  following  : — 


B 

* 

H 

C 

D 

4»  *   * 
^  >»  -!• 

* 

A,    •$•! 

!*  *   * 

*  *  +! 

4*  *  * 

A 

*** 
*** 

*j* 

*  * 

*A* 
*** 

«!•    * 
^ 

*    * 

IK&I  !3%J 

^.^ 

•5-  * 

*    * 

4.    * 

i. — A  leads  10  ;  C  plays  3  ;  B  plays  2  ;  D  plays  6. 
2. — A  leads  9  ;  C  plays  7  ;  B  plays  ace  ;  D  plays  8. 


MODERN   SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


49 


B  can  now  read  that  A  has  the  k,  kn,  5,  4  yet  in  hand. 
If  A  follows  the  10,  with  the  4  or  5,  the  9  may  be  with 
either  C  or  D,  for  all  that  B  can  read. 

Again  : — 


*  *  * 
**+4 


**** 

* 
**** 


B 


D 


*    * 


*  * 


* 

!* 


*** 
*** 

* 

v 


i. — A  leads  10  ;  C  plays  3  ;  B  plays  2  ;  D  plays  4. 

2. — A  leads  5  ;  C  plays  7  ;  B  plays  ace  ;  D  plays  6. 

And  B  reads  that  the  9,  8,  are  with  the  opponents.  But 
if  the  rule  of  leading  the  fourth  best,  is  not  adhered  to, 
A,  in  this  case,  might  have  both  of  these  cards. 


5° 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Again : — 


*  *  + 


B 


I) 


*'* 


**£ 

4.  4. 


•'V 
4.    4. 

4.    4. 


4,    * 

4.    4. 
4.    4. 


i. — A  leads  10  ;  C  plays  3  ;  B  plays  5  ;  D  plays  4. 
2. — A  leads  9  ;  C  plays  8  ;  B  plays  qu  ;  D  renounces. 

(B  unblocks  ;  see  third-hand  play — the  10  led.) 

A  reads  B  with  the  ace,  deuce,  and  B  gives  A  the 
remainder  of  the  suit.  Had  A  followed  with  any  card 
but  the  9,  B  could  not  have  read  A's  hand. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Take  this  case : — 


C 


*** 


B 


*** 
* 


D 


V 

:*: 


i. — A  leads  10  ;  C  plays  3  ;  B  plays  7  ;  D  plays  2. 
2. — A  leads  9  ;  C  plays  4  ;    B  plays  ace  ;  D  plays  6. 

The  cards  lie  so  that  B  cannot  read  that  A  has  the  8, 
5.  But  neither  could  he  read  A's  hand  had  he  followed 
with  either  of  these  cards. 


52 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Once  more  : — 


-tt 


*  *  * 


*•; 

b 

*^*    *    * 
*n'*      * 
*    *    *    4 

: 

i 

I 

C 

B 
D 
A 

^     * 

t     ± 

* 
* 

1 

*+ 
** 

*   *    *   *.  * 

:  :*:  v 

*  *  *  *** 

i. — A  leads  10  ;  C  plays  3  ;  B  plays  5  ;  D  plays  4. 
2. — A  leads  2  ;  C  plays  ace  ;  B  plays  qu  ;   D  discards. 

Now,  so  far  as  B  can  read,  C  may  have  the  9,  8,  6,  and 
A  the  k,  kn,  only.  But  if  A  follows  the  TO  with  the  9, 
the  deuce  is  at  once  proclaimed  with  A. 

Whenever  the  leader's  small  cards  are  of  lower  rank 
than  those  played  by  the  opponents  in  the  two  rounds, 
these  small  cards  can  be  placed  in  the  leader's  hand,  if 
the  rule  of  leading  the  original  fourth-best,  after  10,  is 
followed.  If  the  lowest  is  led  after  10,  partner  may  not 
be  able  to  read  the  leader's  numerical  strength  in  the 
suit,  as  the  foregoing  illustrations  demonstrate.  No  dis- 
advantages attend  the  play  of  the  fourth-best,  as  the 
information  published  is  a  declaration  of  strength. 

The   lead   of   10  gives    no    information    of  numerical 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  53 

strength,  and  information  concerning  the  latter  must  be 
given  on  the  second  lead,  or  not  at  all.  As  pointed  out 
elsewhere,  when  the  10  loses  to  queen,  or  forces  both 
ace  and  qu,  the  holding  of  exactly  four  is  shown  by  the 
next  lead  of  the  k,  and  more  than  four  by  the  second 
lead  of  kn,  and  if  the  10  wins,  why  should  not  the  leader 
likewise  make  an  effort  to  proclaim  his  numerical 
strength  by  leading  the  highest  of  his  remaining  small 
cards,  thus  enabling  partner  to  place  the  smaller  ones  in 
his  hand  ? 

High  Card  Led  (Followed  by  High  Card}. 

When  you  open  a  suit  with  a  high  card,  and  follow 
with  a  high  card,  select  the  card  for  the  second  lead 
that  will  convey  the  greatest  amount  of  information  in 
reference  to  the  numerical  strength  of  the  suit  and  the 
high  cards  it  contains.  The  general  rule  for  this  is  : 

When  you  open  a  strong  suit  with  a  high  card, 
and  remain  with  two  (or  more)  high  indifferent 
cards,  lead  the  higher  (or  highest)  to  show  the 
minimum  numerical  strength  ;  the  lower  (or 
lowest)  to  show  more  than  the  minimum 
strength. 

The  third  maxim  of  American  leads  applies  to  the 
following  combinations  : — 

i. — Ace,  king,  queen,  knave,  and  one  or  more  small 
cards. 

2. — Ace,  king,  queen,  and  two  or  more  small  cards. 

3. — Ace,  queen,  knave,  and  one  or  more  small  cards. 

4. — King,  queen,  knave,  and  two  or  more  small  cards. 

5. — King,  knave,  10,  and  one  or  more  small  cards. 


54 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


6. — Queen,  knave,  10,  and  one  or  more  small  cards. 
7. — Knave,    10,    9,    and    one    or    more   small   cards. 
(Trumps  only.) 

There  can  be  shown  by  lead  and  follow  four,  five,  six 
or  seven  cards  in  suit,  according  to  the  combination  of 
high  cards  from  which  the  leads  are  made. 

The  quart  major  combination  in  tabular  form,  will 
render  the  application  of  this  maxim  more  clear  : — 


ffij  ffiiiJ  raffll 


I*    * 


4- 

* 

* 

_*__ 

y.  1 

With  sequence  of  knave  to  ace  and  any  number  of  small 
cards,  the  lead  is  the  knave.  ( See  Table  No.  i,  p. 
n.)  The  knave  announces  a  suit  of,  at  least,  five  cards 
— the  minimum  number  from  which  the  knave  is  led. 
So  far  as  taking  tricks  in  this  suit  is  concerned,  you  could 
open  with  ace  and  follow  with  knave  just  as  well,  but 
planning  for  the  play  of  twenty-six  cards,  not  five  or  thir- 
teen, the  order  is  all  for  the  purpose  of  imparting  infor- 
mtion.  Now,  the  knave,  then  ace  marks  the  minimum — 
king,  queen  and  one  small  card.  Let  the  student  thorough- 
ly understand  this  :  the  knave  is  only  led  from  quart  ma- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  55 

jor  or  tierce  to  king,  five  or  more  in  suit,  consequently  the 
lead  of  knave,  then  ace,  marks  the  stronger  combination. 
After  the  lead  of  the  knave,  the  leader  has  three  cards 
of  equal  trick-making  value.  Now  apply  the  maxim 
"  lead  the  highest  to  show  the  minimum  numerical 
strength " — this  points  to  the  ace,  and  ace  following 
knave  shows  exactly  five  in  suit. 

Holding  quart  major,  six  cards  in  suit,  the  second  lead 
is  the  king,  and  the  play  shows  a  suit  of  exactly  six  cards 
(the  knave  and  king  winning,  and  ace  not  in  third  hand). 

With  quart  major,  seven  or  more  in  all,  the  first  lead 
is  still  the  knave — again  apply  the  maxim — "  lead  the 
lowest  to  show  more  than  the  minimum  strength."  The 
knave  and  queen  winning,  the  ace,  king,  and  at  least  three 
small  cards  are  proclaimed;  by  the  second  lead  of  the 
queen — the  lowest  of  the  three  high  indifferent  cards — 
the  maximum  numerical  strength,  that  can  be  shown,  is 
marked  with  the  leader 

Showing  six  or  seven  cards  in  suit  may  not  often  be 
of  practical  value,  yet  again  it  may  result  in  the  gain  of 
a  trick  or  more;  besides,  for  the  sake  of  uniformity,  the 
rule  should  be  adhered  to.  Negative  inference  is  often 
valuable.  If  B,  with  only  eight  cards,  knows  that  A  has 
shown  five  of  a  plain  suit  yet  in  hand,  he  also  knows 
that  A  cannot  hold  four  trumps.  Suppose  A  shows 
seven  spades,  then  leads  diamonds  (trumps)  showing 
four,  and  subsequently  plays  two  hearts,  B  knows  abso- 
lutely that  A  can  have  no  club  and  if  expedient  B  can 
lead  a  small  club  with  the  assurance  that  A  can  trump. 

Take  the  second  combination — ace,  king,  queen,  and 
two  or  more  small  cards.  The  first  lead  is  the  queen. 
If  the  ace  is  next  led — the  higher  of  the  two  indiffer- 
ent cards,  the  leader  shows  the  minimum,  king  and  two 
small  remaining  ;  if  the  king,  the  lower  of  the  indiffer- 


56  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

erit  cards,  the  ace  and  at  least  three  small  cards  are 
shown. 

In  the  case  of  the  ace,  queen,  knave  and  one  or  more 
small  cards,  the  ace  is  led.  The  queen  and  knave  are 
indifferent  cards.  If  the  second  lead  is  the  queen,  the 
minimum  is  shown,  /.  £.,  knave  and  one  small  card  ;  if 
the  knave  follows  the  ace — the  knave  being  the  lower 
of  the  indifferent  cards — more  than  the  minimum  numer- 
ical strength  is  announced. 

Take  the  fourth  combination — king,  queen,  knave, 
and  two  or  more.  Here  the  first  lead  of  the  knave  shows 
per  se  five  in  suit — the  minimum.  If  the  king  follows 
the  knave  it  shows  that  the  lead  was  from  the  minimum; 
if  the  second  lead  is  the  queen — the  lower  of  the  indiffer- 
ent cards — more  than  the  minimum  of  five  are  shown. 

Again  :  The  lead  of  10  from  king,  knave,  10,  when  10 
forces  queen,  or  both  ace  and  queen.  The  leader  then 
remains  with  two  high  indifferent  cards.  If  the  second 
lead  is  the  king,  the  minimum  is  shown — knave  and  one 
small  card  only  ;  if  the  second  lead  is  knave,  the  lower 
of  the  indifferent  cards,  the  leader  still  holds  king  and  at 
least  two  small  ones,  /".  e.,  more  than  the  minimum  num- 
erical strength. 

The  student  will  note  that  if  the  10  brings  out  the  ace 
and  not  the  queen,  the  second  lead  must  be  the  king 
irrespective  of  number  in  suit,  for  in  this  case  the  king, 
kn,  are  not  indifferent  cards,  the  queen  being  in.  You 
can  show  by  play  as  well  as  by  lead;  for  example  :  A 
leads  10  ;  C  plays  qu  ;  B  plays  2  ;  D  plays  3.  Now, 
suppose  by  and  by  D  leads  the  suit  through  A;  if  A  plays 
the  k,  he  has  the  kn  and  one  only;  if  he  plays  the  kn, 
king  and  at  least  two  others  are  marked  in  his  hand. 

From  combination  No.  6 — queen,  knave,  10,  and  one 
or  more  small  cards,  the  queen  is  led.  Again,  the  maxim 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


57 


applies  ;  for  if  the  leader  has  the  minimum,  he  goes  on 
with  the  knave,  the  higher  of  the  indifferent  cards ;  if 
more  than  the  minimum  is  held,  he  next  leads  the  10. 

The  same  directions  apply  to  the  lead  of  the  knave 
of  trumps  from  knave,  10,  9,  and  one  or  more  small 
cards.  With  the  minimum,  the  10  follows  the  knave; 
with  more  than  the  minimum,  the  9  is  the  second  lead. 
In  plain  suits,  the  fourth  best  is  led  from  this  combina- 
tion. See  analysis  of  leads. 

There  are  six  combinations  of  high  cards,  from  which 
a  high  card  is  led — followed,  in  some  cases — by  a  high 
card,  that  do  not  come  under  the  application  of  the  third 
maxim;  although  in  each  combination  the  leader  remains, 
after  the  first  lead,  with  high  indifferent  cards,  /.  ^.,  cards 
in  sequence  with  the  card  led,  and  hence  of  equal  trick- 
making  value.  Here  they  are  in  tabular  form: — 


FROM 

LEAD 

THEN 

Ace,  king,  queen,  knave  only 

k 

kn 

Ace,  queen,  knave,  10  only 

ace 

IO 

King,  queen,  knave    10  only 

k 

IO 

King,  queen,  knave,  and  one  small.  .  .  . 
Queen,  knave,  10,  9  only 

k 
nu 

kn 

Q 

Knave,  10,  9,  8  (trumps  only)  

kn 

8 

In  all  except  the  tierce  to  king  combination,  the  leads 
— first  and  second — not  only  show  the  exact  numerical 
strength,  but  the  exact  cards  that  are  held.  The  tierce 
to  king  combination  is  led  the  same  as  the  quart  major; 
the  rank  of  the  cards  demands  it.  If  partner  has  not 
the  ace  it  will  usually  be  played  upon  the  king,  and 
when  the  leader  next  leads  the  knave,  queen  and  one 


58  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST: 

small  card  (smaller  than  the  10)  are  proclaimed.  If  the 
king  and  knave  both  win,  the  lead  is  then  shown  to  be 
from  the  ace,  king,  queen,  knave  (if  the  ace  is  not  with 
third  hand). 

Note  that  these  six  combinations  are  all  of  exactly  four 
cards,  and  if  a  low  card  is  added  to  each,  then  the  third 
maxim  applies. 

ANALYSIS  OF  LEADS  IN  DETAIL. 

Note  i. — By  "original  lead"  is  meant  the  original 
lead  of  the  original  leader  of  the  hand.  The  leads  given 
may  be  made  by  any  player,  at  any  stage  of  the  hand,  but 
they  apply  with  greater  force  to  the  first  lead  of  all. 

Note  2. — When  the  second  lead  is  given,  it  is  assumed 
that  no  one  has  renounced  to  the  first  round.  Holding 
up  is  not  provided  for,  as  :  A  leads  the  kn  from  k,  qu, 
kn,  and  two  small,  and  the  knave  wins,  ace  is  supposed 
to  be  with  B. 

Note  3. — Trumps  are  led  the  same  as  plain  suits  when 
not  otherwise  directed. 


SUITS    HEADED    BY    ACE. 

Suits  headed  by  the  ace  may  be  divided  into  five  dis- 
tinct combinations,  aside  from  suits  of  five  or  more  where 
the  ace  is  led  with  or  without  high  cards. 

i.     Quart  Major  Combination. 
The  distinctive  feature  of  this  combination  is  the  four 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


59 


court  cards,  and  the  leads — first  and  second — are  shown 
in  tabular  form. 


i. 


2. 


' A 

*A* 
*** 


*A* 
*** 


*A* 

*** 

** 


*** 

A      A 
** 


*      * 

*A* 
*** 
A  A 


*A* 
A     A 

*** 


*  In  the  above  combinations,  and  in  all  that  are  to  fol- 
low, the  cards  to  the  left  of  the  " — "  form  the  base  or 
root  of  the  combination  ;  the  cards  to  the  right  of  the 
'  show  simply  the  numerical  strength  and  affect 
(as  a  rule)  the  second  leads  only.  In  each  instance  the 
cards  to  the  right  of  the  " — "  will  be  of  the  highest 
rank  permissible  not  to  affect  in  any  way  the  leads, 
either  in  rumps  or  plain  suit.  Combinations  which  are 
affected  by  the  rank  of  the  cards  that  may  be  placed  to 
the  right  of  the  "—  "  will  be  given  under  the  head  of 
the  "ace  combinations." 

In  No.  i,  for  instance,  the  10,  9,  8  are  used,  but  these 
three  cards  may  be  any  of  three  of  all  the  cards  from 
the  10  to  the  deuce  inclusive — and  not  in  any  way  affect 
the  first  or  second  leads.  The  plus  (  + )  sign  following 


6o 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


No.  i  indicates  that  this  combination  may  be  of  greater 
numerical  strength — eight,  nine  or  more  cards.  The 
digits  "  i  "  and  "2"  signify  first  and  second  leads  in 
plain  suits. 

\  When  the  plus  sign  is  not  used,  the  suit  must  be  of 
the  exact  numerical  strength  given — as  in  No.  3  there 
must  be  just  five  cards.  The  only  change  that  can  be 
made  in  this  combination  (3)  and  not  affect  the  leads  is 
to  substitute  some  one  card  in  place  of  the  10,  as  the  9, 
7  or  4,  etc. 

Remark  : — The  combinations  Nos.  i  to  4  are  so  strong 
that  the  lead  is  the  same  in  either  trumps  or  plain  suits. 
The  inference  to  be  drawn  from  the  high-card  leads  will 
be  found  in  detail  in  the  tables  of  inferences  (pp.  83- 
84). 

2.    Tierce  Major  Combination. 


6. 


Remark  : — With  more  than  four  in  suit  the  queeu  is 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


6l 


led  ;  with  four  or  less  the  king.  With  No.  8  the  lead 
maybe  termed  forced,  as  you  do  not  open  (from  choice), 
as  an  original  lead,  from  less  than  four  cards.  In  trumps 
(No.  8)  lead  ace,  then  king,  then  queen. 

3.     Ace  King  Combination. 


10, 


ii. 


12. 


+*+ 
*** 


*    * 

*** 
*_* 

* 
* 
* 


*** 


i*^ 


** 


* 
*     * 

*** 


*** 

*  * 


Remark  : — Holding  ace,  king  and  any  three  (or  more) 
below  the  queen,  lead  ace  ;  with  four  in  suit  lead  king  ; 
with  less  than  four — /".  e.t  a  forced  lead — lead  ace  then 
king.  In  trumps,  combinations  9  and  10,  you  lead  the 
fourth-best — with  seven  in  all,  however,  the  lead  is  the 
same  as  in  plain  suits.  Nos.  n  and  12  are  forced  leads. 
In  rare  cases,  holding  ace,  king  only,  you  sometimes  lead 
them  in  preference  to  opening  a  very  iueakp\a.\\\  suit.  In 
case  you  do,  lead  ace,  then  king,  and  the  fall  to  the  two 
rounds  in  conjunction  with  the  cards  partner  may  hold 
of  the  suit,  will  generally  enable  him  to  read  that  you 


62 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


have  not   led   from  five  or  more,  and  he  will  know  that 
you  are  playing  for  his  hand — not  for  >our  own. 


4.     Four -Card  Combination. 


**! 

:*: 


Remark  : — The  lead  of  the  ace,  then  10,  marks  this 
exact  holding.  If  any  cards  are  added  to  the  suit  the 
second  lead  is  then  the  knave,  as  it  is  of  more  importance 
to  show  five  or  more  in  suit  than  it  is  to  show  the  10. 


5.     Ace,  Queen,  Knave  Combination. 


16. 


** 


*    * 

*&* 
*** 


+    * 

*** 
*** 


Remark  : — Holding  ace,  queen,  knave  and  two  or 
more  small  (including  the  10  as  a  small  card)  lead  ace, 
then  knave,  showing  the  queen  and  at  least  two  small  ; 
with  four  in  suit  lead  queen  after  ace,  and  with  less  than 
four  (as  a  forced  lead)  lead  from  the  ace  down. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  63 

6.     Ace  Combinations. 

There  are  many  combinations — all  suits  of  five  or 
more,  ace  at  the  head — from  which  the  ace  is  led,  and 
these  all  come  under  rule  No.  2.  Table  of  leads  No.  i, 
(p.  23).  There  follow,  however,  some  special  combina- 
tions which  call  for  particular  attention,  owing  to  the 
character  of  the  high  sequences  and  tenaces  which  may 
be  with  the  ace — and  yet  the  ace  be  led. 


64 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


24. 


* 


*  * 


* 


* 


* 


Remark: — These  will  be  examined  seriatim:  (17.) 
This  is  an  ace  king  combination  (see  Nos.  9-12),  but 
the  strong  tierce  to  knave  sequence  to  the  right  of  the 
" — "  renders  it  uncommonly  strong.  In  trumps  lead 
king — if  you  mean  to  change  the  suit  with  the  idea  of 
finessing  on  the  return — if  not  lead  ace,  then  king,  then 
9.  (18-19.)  In  trumps  or  plain  suits  lead  king,  and,  if 
expedient,  change  the  suit  and  wait  for  the  return.  (20.) 
You  will  rarely,  if  ever,  be  forced  to  lead  from  this  com- 
bination. If  expedient  change  the  suit,  with  the  idea  of 
finessing  kn  upon  the  return.  (21-22.)  Holding  either 
of  these  two  combinations — four  cards  only  in  suit — lead 
9,  in  either  trumps  or  plain  suit.  With  five  or  more,  lead 
ace,  then  9 — if  the  fall  to  the  ace  warrants  it.  (23.)  If 
forced  to  open  from  ace,  kn  and  one  small,  lead  small 
retaining  tenace.  You  may  under  certain  circumstances 
be  justified  in  the  lead  of  the  knave  in  the'  hope  of 
making  two  tricks  in  the  suit.  (24.)  Holding  ace  and 
four,  five  or  even  six  very  small  cards  you  may  lead 
fourth-best,  and  especially  so  if  strong  in  trumps. 

In  all  other  suits  of  five  or  more  cards  headed  by 
the  ace,  lead  ace  then  fourth-best.  In  trumps  lead  fourth- 
best  unless  with  seven  in  all — then  lead  ace. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  65 

SUITS    HEADED    BY    THE    KING. 

Suits   headed   by  the  king  may  be  divided  into  four 
combinations  as  follows  : — 


7.     Quart  to  King  Combination. 


25- 


*A* 

*** 


Remark  : — The  lead  of  king  then  10,  like  the  lead  of 
ace  then  10,  marks  the  queen  and  knave  and  shows 
exactly  four  in  suit. 


8.      Tierce  to  King  Combination. 

m,\ 


26. 


27. 


28. 


29. 


* 
A     A 


2  I 


** 


i&  Snul 


m 


** 


66 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Remark: — With  a  tierce  to  king,  five  or  more  in  suit, 
the  knave  is  led,  with  four  the  king,  and  with  less  than 
four  lead  king,  then  kn  and  show  the  queen.  In  trumps 
(No.  29)  lead  k,  then  qu,  then  kn  and  show  no  more. 


9.     King  Queen  Combination. 
* 


32- 


*A* 
*** 

*A* 
*** 


*A* 
A** 


*A* 

A** 

***| 


*A* 

A     A 

A*A 


Remark  : — Holding  king,  queen  and  three  or  more 
small  (below  the  knave)  lead  queen  ;  if  it  wins,  follow 
with  fourth-best  counting  from  and  including  the  queen. 
With  four  in  suit  lead  king,  if  it  wins,  then  lowest ;  if 
the  king  loses,  you,  of  course,  next  follow  with  the 
queen.  If  forced  to  lead  from  king,  queen  only,  or 
king,  queen  and  one  small,  lead  king  then  queen. 


10.     King,  Knave^  Ten  Combination. 


33- 


A"1  * 
4.      A 


*      A 

*_!*, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


34- 


35- 


*  * 

*** 
*** 

*  * 


Remark  : — Holding  king,  knave,  10,  with  or  without 
others  lead  the  10,  even  if  the  nine  is  in  hand.  If  the 
10  forces  the  play  of  queen,  or  ace  and  queen,  follow 
with  knave,  if  five  or  more  are  in  hand  ;  with  king,  if 
less  than  five.  If  10  forces  ace  and  not  queen,  you 
must  next  lead  the  king  irrespective  of  numerical 
strength.  If  the  ten  wins  the  trick,  follow  with  original 
fourth-best. 

From  all  other  suits  headed  by  king  lead  fourth-best. 


SUITS  HEADED  BY  THE  QEEEN. 

There  are  two  combinations  headed  by  the  queen. 


ii. 


Quart  to  Queen  Combination. 


36. 


*** 
*** 

*  * 


Remark  : — The  lead  of  queen  then  9  proclaims  the  kn, 
10  only,  and  is  similar  in  principle  to  ace  then  10  ;  king 
then  10  ;  each  heralds  an  exact  holding. 


68 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


12.      Tierce  to  Queen  Combination. 


37 


38. 


39- 


*   * 

*7* 

*** 
*** 

4.  ^. 

*  * 

4.^4. 

*** 


Remark  : — With  tierce  to  queen,  with  or  without  others, 
the  queen  is  led.  Holding  five  or  more  follow  with  the 
10  ;  less  than  five  lead  from  the  queen  down. 

From  all  other  suits  headed  by  the  queen  lead  fourth- 
best. 

SUITS  HEADED  BY  THE  KNAVE. 

The  knave  lead  from  the  head  of  a  sequence,  like  the 
old  lead  of  the  TO,  is  now  abandoned.  (See  p.  22). 
Below  is  given  the  quart  to  knave  combination  showing 
the  lead  and  follow. 


13.     Quart  to  Knave  Combination. 


40. 


*&* 
*** 


£ 

I 


*  * 

*  *l 


*  * 

*  * 
** 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


69 


4I 


*  * 

** 
*** 

* 


** 


*  * 
* 


42. 


*'* 
** 


*  + 

*&* 
*** 


V 
+*+ 

I 


43- 


*** 
*** 

*** 
*** 


** 


Remark  : — In  trumps  the  kn  is  led  at  the  head  of  a 
sequence,  as  partner  is  justified  in  finessing  more  deeply 
in  trumps  than  in  plain  suits.  The  lead  of  the  kn  in 
trumps,  from  this  combination,  does  not  complicate  the 
play  of  third  hand,  as  it  does  in  plain  suits. 

From  all  other  strong  suits  not  enumerated  in  the 
foregoing  pages,  lead  fourth-best. 

It  is  always  understood  that  the  lead  of  trumps  may 
be  modified  by  the  trump  card  turned,  the  necessity  for 
two  or  more  rounds,  the  inferences  drawn  from  the  fall, 
the  state  of  the  score  and  the  stage  of  the  game. 

A  table  of  high-card  leads  followed  by  high  card  will  be 
found  on  page  70.  These  leads  should  be  studied  until 
the  student  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  them  in  every 
way.  The  cards  to  the  right  of  the  " — "  are  given 
simply  to  show  the  numerical  strength,  and  they,  of 
course,  may  be  any  of  the  small  cards  from  the  9  to  the 


7o 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


deuce  inclusive.      The  sign  "+"  signifies  that  the   suit 
may  be  of  greater  numerical  strength. 


TABLE  OF  HIGH  CARD  LEADS. 


FROM 

NO.  IN 
SUIT. 

LEAD 

FIRST. 

SECOND. 

Ace,  k,  qu,  kn  —  4,  3,  2  +  
Ace,  k,  qu,  kn  —  4,  3    

7 
6 

5 
4 
6 

5 
4 
5 
4 
4 
5 
4 

4 
6 

5 
4 
5 
4 
5 
4 

4 
5 
4 

kn 
kn 
kn 
k 
qu 
qu 
k 
ace 
k 
ace 
ace 
ace 

k 
kn 
kn 
k 

T 

10 
10 

qu 
qu 
qu 

qu 
k 
ace 
kn 
k 
ace 

T 

ace 

10 

kn 
qu 

10 

T 

kn 
deuce* 

trey+ 
kn} 
k 

9 

10 

kn 

Ace,  k,  qu,  kn  —  4    

Ace,  k,  qu,  kn  —  

Ace,  k,  qu  —  4.  3,  2  +  .  . 

Ace,  k,  qu  —  4,  3.  . 

Ace,  k,  qu  —  4 

Ace,  k  —  4   32  + 

Ace,  k  —  4  3 

Ace,  qu,  kn,  10  — 

Ace,  qu,  kn  —  4,  3  + 

Ace,  qu,  kn  —  4 

King,  qu,  kn,  10  —            

King,  qu,  kn  —  4,  3,  2  +  

Kins'  QU   kn  —  j.  ^ 

King   qu   kn  —  4 

Kins'  QU  —  A.    ^  2  -f- 

Kincr  QU  —  A.   "\ 

King    kn    10  —  4,3+    

King   kn    10  —  4    

Queen    kn,  10,9  —     ..      

Queen,  kn,  10  —  4,  3  +  

Oueen    kn    10  —  4 

*  Queen  winning.            t  King  winning.            £  If  10  forces  queen. 

Trump  Leads. 
"  American  Leads  "  have  revolutionized  the  game,  and 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  7 1 

the  changes  have  all  been  in  the  direction  of  simplifica- 
tion. 

The  new  order  of  leads  from  high-card  combinations 
has,  with  few  exceptions,  done  away  with  differences  in 
leads  between  trumps  and  plain  suits,  which  heretofore 
have  proved  such  a  stumbling-block.  As  original  leads, 
aside  from  certain  modifications  rendered  necessary  by 
very  unusual  hands,  or  the  rank  of  the  card  turned  (see 
Special  Trump  Leads),  trumps  are  led  the  same  as  plain 
suits,  except  in  the  following  cases  : — 


*   * 

*** 

*,* 

4.    4» 

*    * 

**t 

*  * 

*  * 

*    * 

* 

*  * 

*** 

4.  4. 

*    * 

Plain  Suits  : — Lead  king  with  four,  ace  with  more  than 
four. 

Trumps  : — Fourth  best  with  less  than  seven,  ace  with 
seven  or  more. 

Beginners,  and  even  players  of  moderate  experience, 
holding  ace,  king  and  two,  three  or  four  small  trumps 
will  at  once  lead  ace  and  king.  Such  players  play  the 
first  few  rounds  of  the  hand  as  though  they  expected  to 
take  all  the  tricks  unaided  by  partner.  They  play  their 
aces  and  kings  and  take  as  many  tricks  as  they  can,  and 
then  are  at  the  mercy  of  their  opponents  the  rest  of  the 
play.  Good  players  finesse  and  underplay  from  the  very 
start  if  necessary.  They  strive  to  so  play  that  they  may 
gain  by  finesse  the  one  trick  that  may  be  made  or  lost. 

For  example  : — A  holds  ace,  k,  9,  S,  7,  6  of  trumps  ;  he 
plays  the  two  honors,  he  plays  as  though  he  expected  to 
take  all  the  tricks,  as  though  he  hoped  to  catch  the  qu, 
kn,  10  in  the  two  rounds — leaving  him  with  command. 
The  good  whist  player  reasons  that  there  are  seven 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


trumps  that  he  does  not  hold  and  that  the  chances  are 
that  he  will  lose  a  trick  in  trumps  unless  his  partner  can 
win  the  first  round  for  him,  and  consequently  he  leads 
fourth-best.  Nothing  can  be  worse  than  to  play  only 
your  own  hand — ignoring  partner. 


*** 
*** 


*** 

*+* 

4.    * 

4,    4, 

*  * 

4-    4- 

4>    * 

* 

*** 

4-    4- 

4,    4, 

4.    4. 

*** 

*** 


*4»* 

*** 

4.    4. 

*      * 

4.    4. 

4.  4, 

A      A 

A 

4* 

*L* 

4»    4 

A__* 

*_* 

*+t 


* 


* 


*** 


4.  4. 
4.  4, 


*    * 


Plain  Suits  : — Lead  fourth-best  with  four,  ace  with 
more  than  four. 

Trumps  : — Fourth-oest  with  less  than  seven  ;  ace  with 
seven  or  more. 


*** 
*** 


:*: 

+*+ 


*+* 


4,   4, 


Plain  Suits  or  Trumps  : — Lead  king  with  four,  queen 
with  five  or  more,  but  if  the  10  is  not  in  hand,  then  : — 


+** 
*** 


*** 


4.  4, 

4.       A 

4,  4. 

* 

*  * 

*_* 

Plain  Suits  : — Lead  king  with  four,  quwith  more  than 
four. 

Trumps  : — Fourth  best  with  less  than  seven;  qu  with 
seven  or  more. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


73 


*'* 
** 


and  one  or  more  small. 


Plain  Suits  : — Lead  fourth-best. 

Trumps  : — Lead  knave,  with  four  in  suit  follow  with 
10,  with  five  or  more  follow  with  9.  Holding  kri,  10,  9, 
8  only,  lead  knave  then  8. 

The  foregoing  combinations  are  the  only  ones  which 
call  for  a  different  lead  in  trumps.  Here  they  are  in  tab- 
ular form. 


*  * 

*** 
*** 

*  * 

*** 

*  * 

*** 

*** 

4.  4, 
*  * 

*  * 

*  * 
*  * 

*   * 
* 
*  4- 

*  * 

*   * 

*  * 

* 

*  * 

*  * 

* 


4,    4- 

4.    4. 

4,    4- 

* 

4.    4. 

4.    4, 

With  seven  in  all  (as  above)  trumps  are  led  the  same 


74 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


as  plain  suits  ;  with  less  than  seven,  the  fourth-best  is 
led.  For  example,  if  the  5  is  dropped  from  each  of  the 
above  (the  last  combination  excepted),  then  in  trumps 
the  8  would  be  led  in  each.  In  the  last  combination  (kn, 
10,  9,  etc.),  the  knave  is  led  in  trumps  irrespective  of 
number,  in  plain  suits  the  fourth-best. 

Special  Trump  Leads. 

The  situation  often  demands  a  special  trump  lead.  If 
a  ruff  or  see-saw  is  imminent,  or  for  any  special  reason 
you  desire  two  or  more  rounds  of  trumps  at  all  hazard, 
you  will  lead  a  winning  high  trump  when  you  other- 
wise would  not.  The  score  may  affect  your  play  of 
trumps ;  suppose  the  score  stands  at  6  against  you,  and 
the  opponents  have  four,  five  or  six  tricks  home,  you 
see  the  game  is  gone,  unless  a  strengthening  trump  will 
save  it,  and  you  lead  accordingly.  The  rank  of  the  card 
turned  often  necessitates  an  irregular  lead  in  trumps. 
Here  are  a  few  examples  : — 


SPECIAL  TRUMP   LEADS. 


FROM 

TURNED  TO  YOUR    RIGHT. 

LEAD 

Ace  king  etc 

Queen 

King" 

Ace,  queen,  10,  etc.. 
King,  knave,  10,  etc.. 
King,  knave,  9,  etc.. 
Queen,  knave,  9,  etc. 
Knave,  10,  8,  etc  

Knave. 
Queen. 

10 
10 

9 

Queen. 
King. 
Knave. 
Queen. 
Knave. 

The  trump  turned  with  partner  may  also  modify  your 
lead.  For  example,  holding  ace,  king,  queen  and  others, 
knave  turned  with  partner,  you,  of  course,  lead  small. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  75 

Irregular  Original  Leads. 

An  irregular  lead  is  often  a  necessity,  even  as  the 
original  lead  of  the  hand.  The  player  always  has  the 
option  of  exercising  his  judgment  in  the  matter  of 
accepting  an  ordered  lead.  Irregular  leads  from  high 
cards  in  sequence  may  be  preferable  to  opening  four 
trumps  or  a  very  weak  plain  suit.  Here  are  some  the 
least  objectionable  : — 

Ace  from —  Ace,  king. 

King  from — King,  queen,  knave. 

King,  queen,  and  one  small. 
Ten  from —  King,  knave,  10. 
Queen  from — Queen,  knave,  10. 

Queen,  knave,  and  one  small. 
Knave  from — Knave,  10,  9. 

Knave,  10,  and  one  small. 


You  may  at  any  time  lead  the  king  from  the  ace,  king 
and  three  or  more  small,  when  you  deem  it  advisable  to 
show  the  ace  rather  than  the  numerical  strength.  You 
may  likewise  lead  the  king  from  ace,  king,  knave  and 
two  or  more  small,  with  the  idea  of  changing  the  suit  to 
await  the  return  for  the  finesse.  You  may  lead  fourth- 
best  from  ace,  king  and  others  ;  ace,  and  four  or  more 
small.  You  may  refuse  to  open  from  your  best  suit, 
selecting  a  second-best  ;  as  with  ace,  queen,  10,  2  and 
qu,  10  4,  3  you  may  open  from  the  queen  high  suit.  The 
fall  to  the  first  lead  may  render  an  irregular  second  lead 
a  necessity.  For  instance,  with  ace,  queen,  TO  and  four 
small,  after  the  play  of  ace,  you  may  follow  with  queen 
— drawing  the  knave  from  second  hand,  the  king  from 
fourth  hand — establishing  the  suit,  when  the  play  of  the 


76  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

fourth-best  would  have  permitted  the  king  to  remain  in 
against  you.  These  are  but  single  instances  of  hundreds 
that  might  be  given.  On  the  other  hand  double  tenaces, 
like  the  ace,  queen,  10  are  not  good  suits  to  open.  So  also 
any  three-card  suits  not  in  sequence  ;  or  a  court  card 
and  one  or  two  small.  Ace,  kn,  10  ;  ace  kn,  and  one 
small ;  ace,  10  and  another  ;  10  and  two  small  and  9  and 
two  small  are  all  the  worst  possible  suits  to  open.  No 
singleton  is  ever  led  except  the  ace  of  trumps  (as  an 
original  lead). 

Forced  Leads. 

You  are  sometimes  forced  to  open  a  numerically  weak 
suit,  that  is  a  suit  of  less  than  four  cards.  This  you  will 
seldom  have  to  do  as  the  original  leader  of  the  hand,  for 
then  you  must  have  at  least  one  four-card  suit,  and  even 
if  your  only  four-card  suit  is  very  weak,  it  is  generally 
best  to  open  it  in  preference  to  a  three-card  suit.  If 
your  only  four-card  suit  is  the  trump  suit,  it  is,  as  a  rule, 
best  to  stick  to  principle  and  lead  it.  But  you  may  get 
in  the  lead  after  a  round  or  two,  and  the  character  of 
your  hand  may  force  you  to  open  a  three  card  suit. 
When  you  are  forced  to  do  this,  and  your  three  cards 
are  in  sequence,  open  with  the  highest,  no  matter  what 
the  cards  are.  It  follows  that  if  you  have  two  three- 
card  suits,  one  say,  ace,  qu,  10  and  the  other  qu,  kn,  10 
or  kn,  10,  9,  you  would  select  the  one  in  sequence,  in 
preference  to  the  one  of  tenaces,  as  you  will  do  less 
harm,  and  if  you  find  partner  with  any  strength  in  the 
suit,  you  will  not  lose  command  of  the  suit — at  least  for 
some  rounds.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  you  lead  from  the 
ace,  qu,  TO  suit ;  you  do  not  have  much  chance  of  taking 
but  one  trick  in  the  suit  ;  but  if  you  have  the  lead  come 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


77 


up  to  you,  or  through  you,  you  may  make  two  or  three 
tricks  in  the  suit. 

If  you  are  forced  to  open  a  three-card  suit  headed  by 
ace  or  king,  and  the  two  other  cards  are  small  ones,  such 
as — ace,  5,  2  ;  king,  5,  2  and  you  have  no  indications  as 
to  what  your  partner  has  in  the  suit,  you  should  open 
with  a  low  card.  If  you  open  with  a  high  card  and 
partner  is  weak  in  the  suit,  you  establish  the  suit  for  the 
adversaries.  For  example  : — 


*      * 
*      * 

B 
C                               D 
A 

+  *  * 
*  * 
*  4-  * 

**** 
* 
**** 

.;.:.;.: 
*    * 
**** 

Now,  it  matters  not  how  A  opens  the  suit,  as  the  cards 
lay,  A  B  can  take  but  one  trick,  and  either  the  ace  or 
the  2  may  equally  deceive  partner  ;  but  there  is  this  in 
favor  of  opening  with  the  2 — you  do  not  give  up  com- 
mand, and  the  longer  you  keep  the  opponents  from 


78  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

establishing  the  suit  against  you,  the  more  backward  will 
be  their  game,  and  the  more  embarrassment  you  will  give 
them.  Then,  again,  with  such  a  hand  as  you  must  have, 
to  be  forced  to  open  a  suit  like  this,  you  do  not  want  the 
lead,  and  the  lead  of  the  2  (if  partner  does  not  win  the 
trick)  throws  the  lead  with  D,  and  you  still  have  com- 
mand of  the  suit.  If  you  lead  the  ace  you  retain  the 
lead,  and  must  go  on  with  the  5,  and  the  suit  is  estab- 
lished for  the  opponents.  Suppose  we  exchange  the 
cards  of  B  and  D  and  then  we  have  : — 


*   * 

*     +1 

B 
C                                D 
A 

*  4-  * 
*  * 

*  4-  * 

**** 
* 
*  *  *  * 

**** 
*     * 
**** 

*    * 

* 

* 

* 

*    * 

* 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  79 

Here,  if  A  opens  with  ace  and  follows  with  5,  A  B  take 
two  tricks  in  the  suit  ;  but  suppose  on  the  other 
hand  — 

i. — A  leads  2  ;  C  plays  4  ;  B  plays  k  ;  D  plays  6. 

2. — B  leads  kn,  and  if  D  does  not  cover,  A,  of  course, 
finesses,  and  A  B  have  three  tricks  in  the  suit.  Trans- 
pose the  cards  as  you  may,  the  balance  of  advantage  is 
with  opening  the  small  card  ;  besides  A,  not  wanting  the 
lead  with  such  a  hand  as  this,  throws  the  lead  at  once, 
and  then  has  the  probable  chance  of  a  deep  finesse  in 
the  suit,  if  B  wins  the  first  round  and  returns  a  card  like 
the  kn,  10  or  9,  and  A  thus  keeps  control  of  the  suit 
until  the  third  round. 

Nearly  the  same  argument  applies  to  the  lead  of  a  low 
card  from  king  and  two  small.  If,  however,  partner  has 
shown  by  discard,  or  by  negative  inference,  that  he  has 
strength  in  the  suit,  or  if  he  is  playing  the  strong  game, 
then  the  case  is  entirely  different,  and  you  will,  of  course, 
lead  him  the  ace  or  king  as  the  case  may  be.  If  also, 
the  two  cards  below  the  ace  or  king  are  in  sequence  and 
of  some  strength,  as  ace,  10,  9,  it  is  generally  best  under 
all  conditions  to  lead  the  high  card,  for  if  you  open  with 
the  ace  and  follow  with  10,  partner  will  mostly  be  able 
to  read  it  as  a  forced  lead,  and  will  finesse  the  10,  if  only 
moderately  strong  in  the  suit. 

If  the  three-card  suit  is  headed  by  qu,  kn,  10  or  lower 
card,  usually  lead  the  highest,  for  these  cards  are  of 
little  or  no  value  in  resisting  the  opponents  from  estab- 
lishing the  suit,  and  they  may  strengthen  partner,  for  if 
partner  has  fair  strength  the  qu,  kn  or  10  will  be  of  great 
benefit  to  him  ;  if  he  has  no  strength  in  the  suit,  no  play 
will  save  a  trick  nor  prevent  the  opponents  from  estab- 
lishing the  suit.  Suppose  the  following  : — 


8o 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


*  + 


**** 
*    * 


B 


C 


D 


*   * 

*  * 

* 

*  * 

*  * 

i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  2  ;  B  plays  3  ;  D  plays  6. 

2. — A  leads  5,  and  no  matter  how  C  plays,  A  B  have 
three  tricks  in  the  suit.  On  the  other  hand  if  A  leads 
the  4,  a  trick  is  lost.  If  you  exchange  the  cards  of  C 
and  D  no  loss  results  from  the  lead  of  qu,  as — 


*  * 

*  * 


**** 

* 
**** 


B 


D 


*++* 

!***** 


4*    * 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


8l 


i. — A  leads  qu;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  3;  D  plays  k,  and 
A  B  make  two  tricks  in  the  suit,  and  no  play  will  do  more. 
Suppose,  again,  that  B's  and  C's  hands  are  exchanged  in 
the  last  example,  and  no  loss  results  from  the  lead  of  the 
queen,  as — 


*  * 

*  * 


B 


D 


i. — A  leads  qu;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  6;  D  plays  2 

Here,  A  B  cannot  by  any  play  take  a  trick  in  the  suit. 

The  advantage  in  leading  the  high  card  here,  is  that  it 

offers  to  partner  the  opportunity  of  finessing,  and  in  the 

event  of  the  balance  of  strength  lying  with  C,  a  trick  may 


82  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

be  gained;  if  the  strength  is  with  D  no  loss  ensues,  and 
even  in  the  event  of  finding  B  with  no  strength,  little,  if 
any,  harm  is  done. 

If  it  can  be  avoided  do  not  lead  from  an  honor  and 
one  small  card,  especially  from  ace  or  king  and  one  small. 
Avoid  leading  from  a  double  tenace,  or  the  major  tenace 
and  one  small,  but  endeavor  to  play  so  that  such  suits 
may  be  led  up  to  you.  There  is  one  combination  of  three 
cards  that  you  do  but  little  harm  to  open,  and  that  is,  k, 
kn,  10 — open  with  the  10 — it  will  not  deceive  partner, 
except,  possibly,  as  to  numerical  strength.  All  forced 
leads,  from  three  cards  or  less,  are  liable  to  mislead  your 
partner,  especially  when  there  is  an  unusual  distribution 
of  the  suit,  but  at  times  there  is  no  other  resource. 


Inferences. 

To  play  good  whist  it  is  necessary  to  be  able  to  draw 
the  important  inferences  with  rapidity  and  accuracy. 
Every  card  properly  played  carries  with  it  a  true  story. 
— big  or  little  as  the  case  may  be — if  you  understand 
the  story;  it  will  require  but  little  mental  effort  to  recol- 
lect it  as  long  as  it  is  of  use  to  you.  When  whist  is 
played  correctly,  especially  in  the  first  few  rounds  of  the 
hand,  inferences  may  be  drawn  rigidly.  If  A  leads  orig- 
inally the  ace,  then  knave,  B  knows  at  once  that  A  has 
the  queen  and  at  least  two  small.  There  follow  in  tabu- 
lar form  some  of  the  most  important  inferences  that  may 
be  drawn  from  high-card  original  leads.  (Holding  up 
and  underplay  cannot  here  be  provided  for,  as  A  leads 
the  knave  and  it  holds  the  trick;  he  follows  with  queen 
which  also  wins;  if  B  has  not  the  ace,  he  draws  the  infer- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


ence  that  A  has  ace,  king  and  at  least  three  small  cards 
of  the  suit  yet  in  hand,  but  C  or  D  might  have  the  ace, 
and  A,  king  and  three  small.) 


TABLE   OF    INFERENCES. — NO.    I. 


LEAD. 

INFERENCES. 

FIRST. 

SECOND. 

SHOWS. 

DENIES. 

NO.  IN 
SUIT. 

Ace. 
Ace. 
Ace. 
Ace. 
Ace. 
Ace. 
King. 
King.t 
King.* 
King.t 
King* 
King. 
King. 
King. 

King. 
Sueen. 
nave. 

10 

9 
4th 

ace 
qu 
qu 
kn 
kn 

10 

4th 

Queen. 
King. 
King. 
King. 
King. 
K&qu  &kn. 
Queen. 
Knave. 
Knave. 

5  +  t 

4 

5  + 
4 
5  + 
5  + 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 

Knave. 
Queen. 
Qu  and  kn. 
Qu.  or  kn  and  10 
Two  higher. 

Ace. 
Two  small. 
Ace  and  qu. 
Queen. 
Qu  and  kn. 
Qu  and  10 
Queen. 

Ace. 
Ace  and  kn. 
Ace  and  kn. 

\  5  or  more.             f  King  winning.             *  King  losing. 

84 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 
TABLE   OF    INFERENCES. — NO.    II. 


LEAD. 

INFERENCES. 

FIRST. 

SECOND. 

SHOWS. 

DENIES. 

NO.  IN 
SUIT. 

Queen 
Queen  * 
Queen  f 
Queen 
Queen 
Queen 
Queen 
Queen 
Knave 
Knave  a 
Knave  b 
Knave  a 
Knave  b 
Ten  c 
Ten  c 
Ten  d 

Ace. 
King. 
King. 
Knave. 

10 

Small 
Ace. 
King. 
King. 
Queen. 
Queen. 
King. 
Knave. 
4th. 

King. 
Ace. 

Knave. 
Knave. 
Knave. 
Ace,  king,  9 
Ace,  king. 
Ace,  king. 
Ace,  knave. 
Ace,  knave. 

5+t 
6+ 

5+ 
4 
5  + 
4 
5  + 
5  + 

i 

5 
7  + 
6+ 

4 

5  + 
4+ 

10 

Knave. 
Knave,  10 
King,  10,  9 
K  and  two  higher 
King,  queen. 
Ace,  queen. 
Queen. 
Ace.  king. 
King. 
Knave. 
King. 
King,  knave. 

Ace. 

Ace. 
Ace,  qr.jen. 
Ace,  queen. 
Ace,  queen. 

\  5  or  more.               *  Queen  winning.               f  Queen  losing. 
a  Knave  winning,  and  ace  not  in  third  hand,     b  Knave  losing, 
or  ace  in  third  hand,     c  Ten  forcing  queen,     d  Ten  winning. 

Example  Hands. 


As  a  review  of  the  foregoing  analysis  of  the  play  of  the 
first  hand,  a  few  example  hands  are  given,  together  with 
comments.  Some  exceptional  hands  are  included,  which 
justify  irregular  leads.  The  leads  given  in  the  analysis 
of  the  examples  are  supposed  to  be  original  leads  and 
a  small  card  is  assumed  to  be  turned.  There  is  no 
score. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


NO.    I    (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


00 


This  is  a  very  simple  hand.  The  student  will  observe 
that  there  is  but  one  four-  card  suit  —  the  d  —  and  that 
the  proper  way  to  open  the  hand  is  with  the  ace,  follow 
with  10,  and  show  the  qu  and  kn  exactly. 


NO.   2    (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


86 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Here  is  a  hand  in  which  there  are  two  strong  suits,  one 
of  four  and  one  of  five  cards.  The  heart  suit  is  very 
strong  in  the  matter  of  high  cards,  but  the  spade  suit  has 
high  cards  and  great  numerical  strength.  Open  the  spade 
suit  with  ace  and  follow  with  kn,  thus  denying  the  king 
and  showing  the  queen  and  at  least  two  others. 


NO.   3   (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


The  heart  is  evidently  the  suit  here;  open  with  k,  and 
then  change  the  suit,  leading  the  3  of  diamonds.  Partner 
will  read  you  with  the  ace  of  hearts  and  probably  kn  also, 
and  if  he  has  the  queen,  he  will  return  it  to  you  at  the 
proper  time,  if  he  gets  in;  if  he  return  a  small  card  you 
know  the  qu  of  hearts  is  against  you  and  you  may  finesse 
kn,  if  you  deem  it  best. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


87 


NO.  4  (CLUBS  TRUMPS). 


*_.* 

o 

0 
0 


Here  are  three  four-card  suits,  but  it  is  easy  to  decide 
to  open  the  spade  suit.  Lead  the  k  ;  if  it  wins  follow 
with  the  7,  showing  queen  and  one  card  higher  than  the 
second  lead. 

NO.    5   (CLUBS  TRUMPS). 


88 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


There  are  two  four-card  suits  in  this  hand.  The  d 
suit  is  headed  by  the  ace,  but  aside  from  this  the  suit  is 
very  weak.  The  strong  sequence  of  10  to  queen  renders 
the  heart  suit' decidedly  the  better  suit  to  open— lead  qu, 
if  it  wins,  follow  with  the  kn,  showing  the  10  and  one 
more, 


NO.  6   (CLUBS  TRUMPS). 


O    0 


A  suit  which  contains  a  sequence  of  three  medium  high 
cards  is  always  a  better  suit  to  open  than  a  suit  headed 
with  a  single  high  card,  even  though  it  be  the  ace.  Open 
d  with  the  8;  for  the  second  lead  play  kn  and  show  the  10, 
9  only. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 
NO.   7   (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


0      O 

0 
0      O 


It  is  open  for  some  consideration  here.  Two  five-card 
suits,  and  both  strong.  The  diamond  suit  is  selected  for 
two  reasons;  first,  as  a  matter  of  information  to  partner, 
the  10  d  will  mark  the  k,  kn  and  if  partner  has  either  ace 
or  qu,  the  suit  will  be  established  on  the  first  or  second 
round.  Second,  if  the  heart  suit  be  opened,  leading  the 
ace,  and  then  the  king,  the  suit  is  then  worthless,  if  you 
withhold  this  suit  it  may  be  opened  up  to  you  by  the 
adversary,  and  you  may  capture  a  court  card  with  your 
king;  if  you  lead  out  ace  and  king,  small  cards  will  most 
likely  fall  upon  them  and  the  adversaries  may  be  left  with 
control.  Lead  10  d,  and  the  follow  depends  upon  the  fall, 
for  if  the  10  forces  the  ace  and  not  qu,  you  must,  if  you 
continue  the  suit,  go  on  with  k.  If  the  10  forces  the  qu 
or  both  ace  and  qu,  then  the  k,  kn  are  of  indifferent  value, 
and  you  go  on  with  kn — showing  five  at  least  in  suit.  If 
the  10  wins  the  trick,  follow  with  the  5. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 
NO.    8   (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


** 


0     0 


o   o 


0     0 

0 
0     O 


4.  4. 


This  hand  is  different  in  character  from  any  of  the  pre- 
ceding ones.  There  is  no  high-card  combination,  and 
consequently  the  opening  must  be  with  a  fourth-best 
card.  The  spade  suit  is  the  longest  and  strongest  suit — 
open  with  the  5,  the  fourth-best  card. 

NO.   9   (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


10  .  01 


0     O 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


91 


Here  is  a  very  exceptional  hand,  and  to  make  the  most 
of  it  requires  exceptional  treatment.  There  is  a  great 
suit  of  diamonds — six  tricks  in  it  barring  trumps.  The 
tierce  major  in  trump  only,  but  this  insures  three  rounds. 
If  you  open  the  diamond  suit  it  may  be  trumped  the  first 
round.  The  best  thing  to  do  is  to  draw  three  rounds  of 
trump — leading  from  the  ace  down.  If  partner  has  the 
long  trumps,  a  great  game  must  follow,  if  with  the  oppo- 
nents, the  diamonds  will  force  their  play.  After  three 
rounds  of  trumps  open  the  d  suit  conventionally — with  the 
kn  and  follow  with  the  king. 


NO.    10  (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


v 

V     <? 


This  hand  differs  from  any  yet  examined  from  the  fact 
that  the  only  four-card  suit  is  the  trump  suit.  You  can- 
not do  better  than  to  open  with  the  2  of  trumps.  I  twill 
not  deceive  partner;  he  will  read  that  you  most  likely 


92 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


have  three  cards  of  each  suit  and  four  trumps.  If  he 
wins  the  first  round  he  will  not  return  the  trump  unless  it 
suits  his  hand  to  have  trumps  come  out.  As  a  rule  when 
your  only  four-card  suit — or  rather  when  you  have  no 
plain  suit  of  more  than  three  cards — stick  to  principle  and 
lead  the  trump  suit. 

NO.    II    (CLUBS  TRUMPS). 


Here,  again,  is  a  very  exceptional  hand.  Strength  in  all 
the  suits.  The  only  singleton  that  is  ever  led  is  the  ace 
of  trumps.  It  can  deceive  partner,  but  for  the  moment; 
for,  if  you  lead  it  and  stop,  you  say  to  partner,  "  I  am 
strong  in  all  the  suits  and  can  take  care  of  them,  almost 
unaided,  get  out  the  trumps,  draw  two  for  one,  and  then 
lead  me  the  best  cards  you  hold,  without  any  regard  to 
conventions,  I'm  responsible  for  this  hand."  Open  with 
ace  of  trumps,  follow  with  king  of  hearts,  then  lead  the 
k  d,  if  it  wins  follow  with  the  deuce. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 
NO.    12    (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


93 


11 

*    * 

* 

: 

2 

*** 

*    * 

* 

+ 

*  * 

* 

+** 

*.* 

* 

%° 

V 

O     0 

0 

0    0 

0    0 

<>    <> 

0 

o°o 

0     0 

O     0 

O 

This  is  a  "  Yarbo rough  "  ;  a  term  used  to  characterize 
a  hand  at  whist  in  which  there  is  no  card  higher  than  a 
9.  It  is  a  very  poor  hand,  but  this  is  no  reason  why  it 
should  not  be  played  properly,  the  odd  card  may  depend 
upon  its  proper  play;  its  improper  play  may  lose  a  game. 
It  is  infinitely  more  to  your  credit  to  save  a  trick  by  good 
play  of  a  hand  like  this  than  to  take  all  thirteen  tricks 
with  a  hand  that  is  invincible.  Simply  play  the  hand  con- 
ventionally, opening  with  the  3  d. 

NO.    13    (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


9     S? 


0     O 


94 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


This  is  a  hand  over  which  there  has  been  a  great  deal 
of  discussion,  not  as  to  which  card  should  be  led,  when 
the  suit  has  been  decided  upon,  but  as  to  which  suit 
should  be  opened.  This  is  a  point  to  be  marked.  The 
student  will  observe  that  to  know  which  cardto  lead  is 
usually  a  comparatively  easy  matter,  but  that  at  times, 
in  exceptional  hands,  the  greatest  whist  minds  diverge — 
they  differ  in  their  judgment  as  to  which  suit  to  select  to 
open.  This  is  one  of  the  many  fine  points  the  whist 
writers  never  reach.  The  long  whist  player — where 
honors  do  not  count,  and  seven  points  are  game — would 
at  once  select  the  heart  suit  as  the  one  to  open,  leading, 
of  course,  the  fourth-best  card. 


NO.    14   (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


Players  addicted  to  the  pernicious  habit  of  leading 
from  short  suits  and  singletons  would  here  delight  in  the 
lead  of  the  3  of  d.  It  is  true  that  this  lead  might  result 
in  more  tricks  than  the  proper  lead  of  the  fourth-best 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


95 


spade,  but  in  the  majority  of  cases  such  leads  must  lose 
as  against  the  long-suit  play.  By  the  lead  of  a  singleton 
as  the  first  lead  of  all  you  deceive  partner  and  may 
wreck  his  hand  as  well  as  your  own.  Besides  you  dis- 
turb his  confidence  in  your  reliability.  If  the  object  is 
to  ruff  with  the  small  trumps,  the  chances  for  doing  so 
are  just  as  good  if  you  wait,  as  some  one  must  be  long 
in  the  suit  and  will  lead  it,  and  when  led,  your  poverty 
in  the  suit  will  not  be  suspected  the  first  round. 


NO.    15    (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


This  is  an  exceptional  hand.  With  six  trumps  it  is 
nearly  always  right  to  lead  them,  but  here,  aside  from 
the  numerical  strength  in  h,  the  hand  has  no  strength, 
and  the  object  in  drawing  the  trumps  at  the  very  start 
is  not  apparent.  The  safest  play  is  perhaps  the  fourth- 
best  heart.  If  partner  wins  the  first  round  he  will  most 
likely  open  either  d  or  s,  and  in  either  event  the  play  will 
enable  him  to  read  your  probable  holding  early  in  the 
play  of  the  hand. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST 
NO.    l6    (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


e 

*  > 

*  * 
*  * 

[V^ 

<?  <? 
<?  9? 

*** 

*** 

*** 

4-*4- 

*** 

V 
**+ 

*+* 

4.  * 
*  * 

4.  4- 
*  * 
4-  4- 

4.  4. 

4-    4* 

0 

V 

0  O 

0  0 

O  O 

<> 

O  0 

0  <> 
0  0 

0 
0 
O 

This  is  an  exceptional  hand.  The  fourth-best  d  is  no 
doubt  the  safest  opening.  If  you  part  with  the  ace  of  d 
the  suit  is  nearly  worthless.  Holding  ace  and  four 
small  cards,  do  not,  as  a  rule,  lead  the  ace,  especially  in 
conjunction  with  numerical  strength  in  trumps. 

NO.    17    (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 

I      A 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIS^ 


97 


Open  with  the  k  d — showing   partner  your  suit   and 
then  the  6  of  trumps. 


NO.    1 8    (CLUBS   TRUMPS). 


0    0 


Here,  again,  is  an  exceptional  hand.  The  only  four 
card  suit  (aside  from  the  trump  suit)  is  very  weak,  but 
there  is  nothing  better  than  to  stick  to  rule  and  open  it. 
There  is  no  other  suit  to  be  considered — except  the 
spade  suit,  and  if  this  suit  is  opened  it  must  be  with  k, 
then  queen,  and  if  you  are  forced  to  discontinue  this 
suit,  you  will  then  be  driveVi  to  the  diamond  suit,  and 
nothing  will  have  been  gained.  Besides  you  run  the 
risk  of  establishing  the  spade  suit  for  the  opponents. 
It  is  hardly  ever  good  play  to  choose  a  three-card  suit 
from  which  to  make  the  first  lead  of  all — usually  stick 
to  principle  and  open  your  four-card  suit  even  if  very 
weak. 


98  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

The  First  Card, 

The  first  card  led  is  the  index  to  the  hand — the  pro- 
logue to  the  play,  and  the  one  who  utters  it  should  do  so 
in  such  a  way  as  not  to  confuse  and  render  ambiguous 
the  entire  performance.  This  is  the  card  that  puts  the 
quartette  to  thinking.  Partner  says — "  What  has  he  got  ?  " 
and  at  once  formulates  a  line  of  attack  or  defense  con- 
sistent with  the  character  of  his  hand  and  the  rank  of 
the  card  led.  If  he  is  weak,  and  the  card  led  is 
indicative  of  weakness — defensive  tactics  are  adopted. 
If,  on  the  other  hand,  he  is  strong  and  the  first  card 
implies  strength,  the  line  of  play  is  aggressive.  It  follows 
that  the  card  you  first  lead  should  not  be  selected  with- 
out due  deliberation,  and  that  it  should  be  as  informatory 
as  the  character  of  your  hand  will  permit.  The  first 
lead  of  all  will  rarely,  if  ever,  be  other  than  conventional, 
and  will  as  often  represent  the  best  suit  of  the  hand.  It 
matters  not  that  the  adversaries  also  read  the  play. 

When  you  are  to  lead  for  the  first  time — not  being  the 
original  leader,  you  usually  open  your  strong  suit,  and 
exactly  in  the  same  manner  as  though  you  were  the  first 
hand  of  all  to  lead  ;  but  your  responsibility  is  not  so 
great,  besides  the  fall  to  the  previous  tricks  may  be  such 
that  you  may  open  with  any  card  you  see  fit,  the  reason 
for  it  being  apparent  from  the  play.  It  is  the  first  card 
of  all  that  should  almost  always  be  conventional,  /.  e., 
it  should  be  from  your  best  suit — if  a  high  card,  it 
should  proclaim  the  holding  ;  if  a  low  card,  it  should 
be  the  fourth-best.  After  the  first  card  is  thrown,  all 
conventionalities  stand  second  to  the  fall  of  the  cards, 
and  any  player  is  justified  in  leading  any  card,  no  matter 
how  unconventional  it  may  be.  .Irregular  play  under 
such  circumstances  will  not  usually  deceive  partner, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  99 

nor  even  the  opponents,  for  in  order  to  make  your 
irregular  play  justifiable,  the  fall  must  be  such  that  it  will 
place  all  the  players  upon  guard  and  they  will  read  your 
play  subject  to  the  previous  fall.  What  would  be  false 
and  unconventional  play  as  an  original  play,  under  such 
circumstances,  becomes,  in  fact,  conventional  play  ;  in 
other  words  it  is  conventional  to  lead  irregularly  when 
the  fall  renders  it  expedient  to  do  so. 

For  the  first  lead  of  all  a  singleton  is  never  led,  except 
occasionally  the  ace  of  trumps.  No  two-card  suit  is 
opened  originally,  except  in  rare  cases,  you  may  open 
from  ace,  king  only — leading  ace  then  king.  In  an 
exceptional  hand  a  three-card  suit  of  high  cards  in 
sequence  may  be  opened,  but  even  this  is  rarely  best.  In 
the  majority  of  cases  the  first  card  will  represent  a  suit 
of  four  or  more  cards  ;  if  a  high-card  combination,  the 
holding  will  be  proclaimed  ;  if  a  low  card  is  led,  it 
announces  three  higher  cards. 

For  further  instruction  on  the  leads — first  and  second 
— the  student  is  directed  to  the  chapter — Counting  the 
Hands.  The  examples  therein  given  should  be  thoroughly 
examined.  If  the  student  is  not  familiar  with  all  the 
leads — first  and  second, — he  will  not  be  prepared  to 
understand  the  analyses  of  second  and  third-hand  play 
which  are  to  follow.  His  knowledge  of  the  leads  as  set 
forth  in  the  tables,  and  his  understanding  of  the  infer- 
ences to  be  drawn  from  the  various  leads,  must  not  be 
superficial.  The  student  should  not  pass  this  point 
until  his  examination  of  the  principles  so  far  treated  is 
comprehensive  and  exhaustive. 


CHAPTER    III. 


SECOND    HAND. 

The  older  writers  did  not  give  to  the  play  of  second 
hand  the  consideration  it  merits.  There  are  more  tricks 
lost  by  the  average  player  in  the  play  of  second  hand 
than  in  any  other  position.  The  correct  play  of  second 
hand  is  the  most  difficult  of  any  at  the  table,  and  very 
much  depends  upon  its  skillful  management. 

Play  Your  Loivest  Card  Second  Hand. 

This  is  a  good  general  rule,  but  the  exceptions  are 
many  and  very  important.  The  play  of  second  hand  has 
been  very  materially  affected  by  what  is  known  as 
American  Leads.  The  play  of  the  fourth-best  card,  and 
the  improved  order  of  leads  from  high-card  combinations, 
enable  second  hand  to  count  the  cards,  draw  inferences, 
and  finesse  accordingly.  Second  hand  play  is  subject  in 
a  material  degree  to  the  trumps  in  hand,  the  card  turned, 
the  score,  etc.  That  which  may  be  proper  play  if  weak  in 
trumps,  may  be  bad  play  if  strong  in  them.  You  may 
often  make  a  great  game  by  a  well-judged  finesse,  and 
you  must  not  forget  when  planning  your  finesse  second 
hand,  that  if  your  finesse  fails  you  are  then  last  player 
to  the  next  trick,  which  should  be  an  advantage  to  you; 
if  it  is  not,  then  your  finesse  lacked  at  least  one  of  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  IOI 

justifications  for  finessing  second  hand.  Third  hand  is 
supposed  to  put  up  his  best  card,  if  needed,  and  you 
must  consider  the  play  of  a  high  card  second  hand  very 
carefully  or  you  will  weaken  your  hand  to  no  purpose. 
The  card  led,  in  conjunction  with  the  cards  you  hold, 
may  enable  you  to  divine  whether  third  hand  is  likely 
to  finesse  or  put  up  his  best  card.  Should  you  think  his 
position  will  not  justify  him  in  finessing,  you  may  finesse, 
for,  if  you  judge  the  card  he  may  play  will  in  any  event 
be  higher  than  your  best  card,  you  gain  to  the  extent  of 
your  finesse.  The  conditions  change  at  every  step,  and 
your  play  is  subject  to  all  the  modifications  arising  from 
previous  play.  You  must  distinguish  between  conven- 
tional and  forced  leads,  and  you  cannot  be  too  careful 
about  trumping  second  hand;  it  is  nearly  always  danger- 
ous, and  may  be  very  disastrous. 

A  single  card  in  your  hand  will  often  enable  you  to 
detect  a  forced  lead.  The  original  lead  of  the  hand  will, 
except  in  rare  cases,  be  conventional,  but,  later  in  play, 
forced  or  irregular  leads,  are  common.  If  you  hold  ace 
or  10,  the  9  led,  the  lead  is  forced;  or  king  or  kn — 10  led, 
k  or  qu — kn  led,  the  lead  is  irregular.  If  you  hold  a 
fourchette  to  any  high  card  led,  the  lead  is  forced.  If  an 
8  or  any  low  card  is  led,  and  you  hold  such  cards  as 
render  it  impossible  for  the  leader  to  have  three  cards 
higher  than  the  one  led,  you  know,  of  course,  that  the 
lead  is  forced,  and  so  on;  in  a  thousand  ways  the  cards 
tell  their  story.  You  must,  likewise,  be  on  the  alert  for 
under  play,  and  all  manner  of  finesse.  One  of  the  finest 
points  in  whist  is  to  throw  the  lead  at  a  critical  moment 
in  the  strategy  of  the  play.  Playing  through  the  strong 
hand  up  to  the  weak  is  a  device  you  must  be  prepared 
to  meet.  All  these  things,  and  many  more,  must  be 
taken  into  consideration  in  playing  second  hand. 


102  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Exceptions  to  Lowest  Card  Second  Hand. 

i. — With  three  in  suit,  two  in  sequence,  you  should 
generally  play  the  lower  of  the  sequence  cards. 

For  example:  C  holding  kn,  10,  2,  the  3  led,  plays  10 — 
not  deuce. 

2. — With  three  cards  in  sequence,  and  one  or  more 
small,  you  play  lowest  of  sequence.  For  instance,  you 
hold  ace,  k,  qu,  6  you  play  qu  second  hand. 

3. — When  you  can  count  the  cards  in  leader's  hand. 

As:  A  leads  7, — C  holding  ace,  qu,  kn,  9,  gives  A  the 
k,  10,  8,  7,  and  knows  that  the  9  must  win  the  trick. 
The  play  of  the  kn,  though  in  sequence,  would  be  bad 
play.  Had  A  led  the  4,  C  must  have  put  up  kn. 

4. — When  you  hold  a  fourchette. 

You  have  a  fourchette  when  you  hold  the  card  next 
higher  and  next  lower  than  the  card  led  ;  as  10  led,  you 
holding  kn,  9.  To  a  conventional  original  lead  of  a  high 
card  you  cannot  hold  a  fourchette  ;  but  they  are  common 
when  the  lead  is  forced.  Holding  a  fourchette  is  notice 
to  you  that  the  lead  is  irregular,  and  you  play  accord- 
ingly. 

5. — When  you  hold  a  double  tenace. 

As  with  ace,  qu,  10,  and  others  you  play  qu — usually, 
or  finesse  the  10 — and  not  a  small  card. 

6. — When  you  wish  to  ask  for  trumps. 

If  you  desire  to  call  for  trumps,  you  play  an  unneces- 
sarily high  card — say,  the  trey  to  ace  led,  and  then  the 
deuce  to  the  king.  If  you  wish  to  call,  and  also  cover 
with  one  of  two  or  more  cards  in  sequence,  you  must 
cover  with  the  higher  of  the  two  in  sequence.  For 
example,  holding  kn,  10,  4,  you  play  the  kn,  not  the  10, 
if  you  wish  to  call.  (See  The  Call.) 

7. — When  you  wish  to  get  in  for  a  particular  purpose. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  103 

You  may  attempt  to  win  the  trick  by  the  play  of  a 
high  card,  which  you  otherwise  would  not  have  played. 
Suppose  partner  has  asked  for  trumps,  you  may  hazard 
a  play  for  possession  of  lead  ;  likewise,  if  he  has  shown 
a  desire  to  get  in,  and  your  hand  is  of  such  a  nature 
that  you  cannot  lead  him  a  card  to  mutual  advantage, 
you  may  underplay  with  the  view  of  putting  him  in. 

8. — When  you  can  take  the  trick  and  still  hold 
command. 

As,  holding  ace,  king,  and  others,  you  play  king. 

9. — With  ace  and  others,  a  court  card  led. 

You  usually  cover  a  court  card  led,  holding  ace  and 
others,  as  with  ace,  queen,  and  others,  knave  led,  play 
ace. 

10. — When  a  suit  can  go  round  but  once,  or  unlikely 
to  run  twice. 

As  with  ace  and  six,  or  more  small,  you  play  ace  irre- 
spective of  the  rank  of  the  card  led. 

n. — With  but  two  or  three  cards  below  the  knave. 

A  higher  one  than  the  one  led  may  be  of  some  service. 
For  instance,  holding  10,  4  the  8  led,  you  may  play  10  ; 
or  with  8,  5,  the  7,  or  6  led,  you  cover.  Such  play 
should  not  be  mistaken  for  a  call,  for  if  second  hand 
plays  first  a  higher  and  then  a  lower  card,  and  the  higher 
card  covers  the  card  led,  as  the  10  on  the  8,  the  8  on  the 
7,  etc.,  partner  will  not  lead  trumps  from  this  play  alone, 
but  should  read  the  play  as  a  probable  cover.  To  be 
sure,  it  may  happen  that  second  hand  may  wish  to  call 
with  such  holding,  but  this  contingency  will  occur  less 
frequently  than  will  the  necessity  for  covering.  The 
call  second  hand  must  be  absolute,  and  the  card  played, 
palpably  unnecessarily  high,  to  constitute  a  call. 

12.  When  you  hold  a  singly-guarded  court  card. 

As  the  9  or  8  led,  you  hold  k  and  small — play  k. 


IO4 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


13. — When  you  wish  to  cover  the  card  led,  with  the 
idea  of  saving  a  high  card  for  partner,  as  with  k,  9,  and 
one  small,  you  play  9  to  8  led. 

Below,  in  tabulated  form,  is  the  proper  play  for  second 
hand.  These  tables  apply  with  more  force  to  the  original 
opening  of  the  hand.  When  no  qualification  is  stated,  the 
play  is  the  same  in  trump  as  in  plain  suits.  A  low  card 
is  supposed  to  be  turned.  By  "  small  "  is  meant  a  card 
in  rank  below  the  7. 


TABLE  OF   SECOND-HAND    PLAY,   NO.    I. 


SECOND   HAND   HOLDING 

CARD   LED 

PLAYS 

ace,  k,  qu  —  with  or  without  others.  .  . 
ace,  k,  kn  —  with  or  without  others.  .  . 
ace,  k  —  and  two  or  more  small 

any 

any 
anv 

qu  (a) 
k 
k  (b) 

ace,  k  —  and  one  small  

small 

small  (c) 

ace,  qu,  kn  —  with  or  without  others.  . 
ace,  qu,  10  only  

any 
small 

kn 
10 

ace,  qu,  10  —  and  one  or  more  small.  . 
ace,  qu  —  with  or  without  others  

small 
kn 

qu  (cl) 
ace 

ace,  qu  —  with  or  without  others  

10 

qu 

ace,  qu  —  and  others 

small 

small  (e) 

ace,  kn,  10  —  and  one  or  more  small.  . 
ace,  kn  —  and  one  or  more  small 

small 
k  or  qu 

small  (f) 
ace  (P") 

ace  —  and  others  

k,  qu  or  kn 

ace  (h) 

ace  —  and  six  or  more  small.. 

any 

ace  Ci} 

ace  —  and  less  than  seven  in  suit  

small 

small 

(a)  It  is  understood  that  when  second  hand  can  count  the  leader's 
hand  he  plays  accordingly;  as  here  if  the  7  is  led,  second  hand 
holding  ace,  k,  qu  and  8 — plays  the  8  and  not  the  qu.     So,  also,  if 
in  trumps,  the  7  led,  the  10  turned  w'th  fourth  hand,  second  hand 
holding  k,  qu,  kn  and  deuce,  will  throw  the  deuce  and  not  the  kn. 
These  obvious  exceptions  will  not  be  referred  to  again. 

(b)  Play  small  in  trumps  unless  qu  is  led,  or  you  are  desirous 
of  stopping  the  lead. 

(c)  With  just  three  in  suit  to  a  small  card  led,  the  small  card  is 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  105 

the  better  play  in  the  majority  of  cases,  and  nearly  always  if  strong 
enough  in  trumps  to  lead  them.  It  is  an  even  chance  partner  will 
win  the  first  round,  and  you  do  not  propose  to  have  the  suit  go 
three  times  before  trumps  are  led,  as  you  get  in  on  the  second 
round  of  the  suit;  besides  partner  is  as  likely  as  your  left  hand 
opponent  to  be  the  one  who  is  short  of  the  suit.  In  trumps  play 
small  unless  you  desire  the  lead  for  special  reasons. 

(d)  If  you  are  strong  in  trumps  play  10.     In  trumps  play  10. 

(e)  With  six  in  suit  play  qu;  with  seven  in  all,  play  ace. 

(f )  In  trumps  play  10,  as  leader  may  have  k,  qu. 

(g)  It  is  sometimes  good   play  to  pass  the  k  or  qu  holding  ace, 
kn,  etc.,  but  it  is  generally  best  to  throw  the  ace. 

(h)  In  trumps  pass,  unless  you  wish  to  stop  the  lead. 

(i)  In  trumps  play  small.  Pass  even  the  second  round  if  you 
have  a  good  hand.  You  may  also  pass  in  plain  suit,  if  strong 
enough  in  trumps  to  lead  them. 


TABLE  OF   SECOND-HAND    PLAY,   NO.    2. 


SECOND   HAND   HOLDING 

CARD  LED 

PLAYS 

k,  qu,  kn  —  with  or  without  others  
k  qu    10  —  and  one  or  more 

any 
small 

kn 

QU 

k  qu  —  and  others 

small 

4U 
ou  (SL) 

k  qu  —  and  others 

kn 

au  (b*) 

k,  kn,  10  —  with  or  without  others  
k,  kn,  9  —  and  one  or  more 

small 
small 

10  (C) 

small  (cl) 

k,  kn  —  and  one  or  more       .  .        ... 

small 

small 

k,  kn  —  only  

small 

kn 

k,  kn  —  with  or  without  others  

Q 

kn 

k  and  one  small  

k 

k  and  others 

o 

k  and  one  small 

small 

small  (e) 

(a)  Generally  play  qu;  in  trumps,  a  low  card. 

(b)  The  lead  is  forced,  and  you  may  sometimes  pass  to  advan- 
tage. 

(c)  In  trumps  the  10  should   nearly  always  be  played;  in  plain 
suits  generally,  but  you  may  often  play  small  with  advantage. 


io6 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


(d)  To  the  7  or  6  led  you  may  sometimes  throw  the  9  to  advan- 
tage, especially  if  desirous  of  getting  the  lead. 

(e)  In  trumps  generally  play  k.     If  the   lead  is  in  answer  to  a 
call,  play  small,  as  ace  is  to  your  left.     If  you  have  the  k  turned, 
or  if  the  ace  is  up   to  your  right,  throw  k.       Aside  from   these 
exceptions  there  is  but  little  advantage  in  favor  of  the  play  of  king. 
And  to  a  small  card  led,  it  is  often  best  to  play  small,  as  it  does 
not  expose  you  to  probable  adverse  finessing. 

TABLE   OF   SECOND-HAND   PLAY,   NO.   3. 


SECOND   HAND   HOLDING 

CARD  LED 

PLAYS 

qu,  kn,  10  —  with  or  without  others  
qu,  kn  —  and  others.      ..      .   ....... 

small 
any 

10 

small 

qu,  kn  —  and  one  small  ............ 

small 

kn  (a) 

qu  —  and  one  small.  ................ 

10  or  9 

QU 

qu  —  and  more  than  one  small  

10  or  9 

small 

qu  —  and  one  small 

small 

small  (b) 

kn,  10,  9  —  with  or  without  others  
kn,  i  o—  and  others  

small 
small 

9 
small 

kn,  10  —  and  one  small  

small 

10  (c) 

kn  —  and  one  or  two  small 

kn 

kn  —  and  more  than  two  small 

Q 

small 

kn  —  and  one  small 

small 

small  (cl) 

ten,  9  —  and  others                .   ........ 

small 

small 

ten,  9  —  and  one  small     ............ 

small 

0 

nine  8  —  and  others 

small 

small 

nine  3  —  and  one  small 

small 

8 

(a)  See  page  108. 

(b)  In  trumps  play  queen.     (See  note  to  king  and  one  small.) 

(c)  See  page  109. 

(d)  In  trumps  generally  play  kn.     (See  page  109.) 

It  is  possible  for  situations  to  occur,  in  which  the 
order  of  play,  as  tabulated,  might  not  be  the  best;  but 
tables  have  nothing  to  do  with  exceptional  situations. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  107 

When  you  have  an  exceptional  hand  you  must  meet  it 
with  exceptional  play,  and  the  player  who  possesses  the 
better  whist  perception,  will  be  successful.  Almost  as 
much  depends  on  knowing  when  to  depart  from  the 
rules  as  in  knowing  when  to  follow  them.  A  hundred 
volumes  might  be  filled  with  rules,  examples,  and  instruc- 
tions, and  still  fall  short  of  the  possibilities  of  the  game. 
The  resources  and  scope  of  whist  defy  complete  analysis. 

Analysis  of  Play  of  Second  Hand  in  Detail. 

Holding  three  high  cards — ace,  k,  qu,  or  k,  qu,  kn 
—The  lowest,  in  sequence  is  unquestionably  the  play, 
and  there  can  be  no  finesse  except  in  rare  cases. 

Queen,  kn.,  10  and  one  or  more — There  may  be  a 
chance  for  a  finesse,  if  a  small  card  is  led  (plain  suit), 
for  either  ace  or  king — possibly  both— -lie  over  you  and 
your  10  may  be  sacrificed.  In  trumps  the  10  should  go, 
and  usually  in  plain  suits  also,  but  you  may  sometimes 
finesse  with  profit. 

Knave,  10,  9,  and  others. — This  case  is  somewhat 
analogous  to  the  preceding  one.  In  trumps  play  9;  but 
in  plain  suits  you  may  finesse  to  advantage. 

Ace,  k,  kn. — Here  the  king  should  go  in  either  plain 
suits  or  trumps. 

Ace,  qu.  kn  and  others — You  are  too  strong  for  finesse 
here — play  kn. 

Ace,  qu,  10 — With  no  others  play  ten,  either  trump  or 
suit.  With  others,  the  qu  should  usually  be  played. 
With  one  more  you  may  finesse  10  either  in  suit  or 
trumps,  if  the  character  of  your  hand  and  position  war- 
rant it. 

King,  kn,  10  and  one  or  more — Usually  play  10,  but 
you  may  sometimes  finesse  to  advantage. 


IO8  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Two  High  Cards. 

Ace,  k,  and  one  small — To  a  low  card  led  you  will  do 
well  sometimes  to  pass.  If  weak  in  trumps  the  k  had 
best  be  played,  unless  your  hand  is  of  such  a  character 
that  by  having  it  led  up  to,  in  case  the  finesse  loses  to 
third  hand,  you  recover  at  once.  The  justification  for 
finessing  second  hand,  like  for  third  in  hand,  must  be 
found  in  the  hand  itself.  It  is  the  combination  of  cards 
you  hold  in  all  the  suits  that  directs  the  play,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  score,  etc. 

King,  qu  and  one  or  more  small — You  should  gener- 
ally throw  queen.  If  you  finesse  you  should  be  strong 
enough  in  trumps  to  lead  them,  or  you  should  have  ten- 
aces  to  be  led  up  to  in  case  the  trick  goes  to  third  hand. 

Queen,  kn  and  one  small — Here  the  object  of  putting 
on  the  knave  is  not  so  clear.  Exhaustive  analysis  will 
show  that  the  advantages,  if  any,  are  very  slight,  even  if 
the  one  suit  only  is  considered.  The  exposure  incident 
to  the  play  of  kn  must  not  be  forgotten.  The  leader 
cannot  have  both  ace  and  king,  except  in  rare  cases.  It 
is  about  an  even  chance  that  your  knave  falls  to  one  of 
these  cards  third  hand.  Third  hand,  in  all  likelihood, 
will  play  either  ace  or  king  if  you  do  not  play  knave.  If 
you  play  knave,  you  have  exposed  your  hand  and  sacri- 
ficed your  knave.  If  the  k  is  in  partner's  hand  he  wins 
the  trick;  if  the  ace  is  with  partner,  king  with  leader,  you 
—barring  trumps — win  first  and  third  rounds  instead  of 
first  and  second.  In  the  majority  of  combinations  it  is 
immaterial  which  you  play — the  knave  or  small  card; 
when  it  is  material,  the  advantages  are  slightly  in  favor 
of  the  play  of  the  kn.  In  trumps  the  kn  should  be 
played,  for  the  conditions  are  very  different.  While  the 
kn  is  given  as  the  play,  with  this  holding,  in  the  preced- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  109 

ing  table,  it  should  be  known  that  the  advantages  in  its 
favor  amount  to  but  very  little,  and  that  a  well-judged 
finesse  with  this  holding  may  make  or  save  a  game. 

Knave,  10  or  10,  9  and  one  small — The  order  for  play 
is  the  lowest  of  sequence.  There  are  no  disadvantages 
here,  and  there  are  cases  where  loss  will  ensue  if  you 
finesse — you  should  generally  play  the  card  in  sequence. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  the  advantages 
in  favor  of  the  play  of  the  high  card,  second  hand,  hold- 
ing ace,  k  ;  qu,  kn  ;  or  kn,  10  and  one  small,  are  very 
slight  and  that  against  this  stand  the  exposure  resulting 
from  the  play  and  the  adverse  finessing  incident  thereto. 
This  frequently  more  than  offsets  the  meagre  advantage. 
Keep  this  in  mind,  and  when  your  hand  warrants  any 
finesse,  do  not  hesitate  to  play  the  small  card  with  these 
holdings. 

One  High'  Card. 

Holding  king,  queen,  or  knave  and  one  small  card 
second  hand,  to  a  small  card  led — plain  suits — the  order 
for  play  is  the  small  card.  As  a  matter  of  making  tricks 
it  is  almost  an  even  thing,  but  it  is  conventional  to  play 
the  small  card  unless  you  desire  the  lead,  or  wish  to  call 
for  trumps,  and  partner  so  reads  the  play.  In  trumps 
the  honor  is  often  thrown,  as  the  margin  in  favor  of  the 
play  of  the  high  card  is  greater  than  in  plain  suits,  owing 
to  the  more  backward  play  of  trumps  by  leader.  Here, 
also,  some  discretion  is  necessary,  and  it  is  often  best  to 
throw  the  small  card.  Whether  the  lead  of  trumps  is 
voluntary  or  in  response  to  a  call,  has  much  to  do  with 
your  play,  and  the  rank  of  the  card  turned  may  influence 
your  play.  Cover  no  honor  with  an  honor,  holding  but 
a  single  honor,  except  you  put  on  ace.  For  instance: 
Do  not  put  qu  on  kn,  nor  k  on  qu  or  kn  unless  you  hold 


no 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


a  fourchette,  or  wish  to  force  at  once  the  higher  cards. 
(But  see  The  Play  of  the  Second  Hand  to  Forced  Leads, 
page  ooo.) 

Special  Plays  for  the  Second  Hand  when  the  S  is  Led. 

The  8  and  7  are  cards  of  high  rank — as  fourth-best 
cards.  When  8  or  7  is  led,  second  hand,  holding  certain 
combinations,  is  enabled  to  count  the  leader's  cards  in 
the  suit  with  accuracy.  It  will  often  occur,  when  the  8  or 
7  is  led,  that  the  second  hand  can  determine  the  exact 
combination  from  which  the  lead  is  made,  or  it  may  be 
that  he  can  read  that  the  lead  must  be  from  one  of  two, 
three,  or  four  combinations.  When  the  second  hand  can 
do  this,  it  not  infrequently  directs  him  to  a  safe  finesse, 
or  justifies  him  in  covering  the  card  led,  for  the  purpose 
of  saving  a  high,  or  master  card,  for  partner.  There 
follow  a  few  examples  illustrating  this  feature  of  the 
play  of  the  second  hand,  the  8  led. 

£3 


:*: 

*    * 

*   * 
*_* 

* 
*   * 


B 


D 


<r  + 

*** 
*** 


* 


*** 


OR 


**+ 

*** 

** 


*** 


D,  as  the  original  leader,  leads  the  8.     A,  holding  k, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Ill 


9,  2,  knows  that  the  lead  is  from  one  of  the  two  com- 
binations given  above — and  four  cards  only  in  suit.  This 
leaves  six  cards  to  be  divided  between  C  and  B.  If  A 
finds  B  with  the  qu  and  three  others,  the  play  of  the  9  on 
the  8,  may  gain  a  trick.  Suppose  the  cards  lay  as  above, 
D  leading  from  the  ace,  kn,  10,  8,  then — 

i. — D  leads  8;  A  plays  9;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  3. 

2  (C  to  lead). — C  leads  7;  B  plays  4;  D  plays  10;  A 
plays  k. 

Now,  if  D  is  forced  to  lead  the  suit,  B's  qu  is  good, 
and  A  B  have  three  tricks  in  the  suit.  The  result  is  the 
same  whether  B  or  D  leads  at  trick  two.  Suppose,  on 
the  other  hand,  A  plays  as  under: 

i. — D  leads  8;  A  plays  2;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  qu. 

Now,  no  matter  how  or  by  whom  the  suit  is  next  led, 
A  B  can  take  but  two  tricks  in  the  suit.  If  C's  and  B's 
hands  are  exchanged,  no  harm  is  done  by  the  play  of  the 
9  by  A.  Suppose,  again,  that  the  lead  is  from  the 
stronger  combination,  ace,  qu,  10,  8,  and  the  cards  lie  as 
under; 


*  * 

*  * 

* 

*  * 

*  * 

B 


C 


*  * 

* 

*** 
*** 

*1_* 

.._*_ 

112 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


i. — D  leads  8;  A  plays  9;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  3. 

2  (C  to  lead). — C  leads  7;  B  plays  4 — and  unless  A 
finesses  the  10,  or  plays  the  ace  and  leads  the  10,  D's  kn 
may  make.  Here,  again,  if  the  hands  of  C  and  B  are 
exchanged,  A,  by  the  play  of  the  9,  neither  gains  nor 
loses. 

No  matter  how  the  remaining  six  cards  of  the  suit  are 
divided,  no  loss  can  come  from  the  play  of  the  9  second 
hand,  and,  as  demonstrated  above,  second  hand  may  gain 
a  trick  by  the  play.  Again: — 


*  * 

* 

* 

* 

4*    * 

._*_ 

*** 

*  * 

*_* 

*  * 
*  * 

*-Ja 

B 

C 

D 

A 

*** 

*** 

*** 
*** 


*      * 


* 

».* 
** 


OR 


*** 


i. — D  leads  8  (from  k,  kn,  9,8);  A  plays  10;  C  plays 
2;  B  plays  3. 

The  cover  by  A  saves  B's  ace,  and  if  D  continues  the 
suit,  AB  have  three  tricks.  If  A  does  not  cover,  no  play 
will  yield  but  two  tricks.  If  A  finds  the  ace  with  C,  the 


^MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  113 

sacrifice  of  the  10  costs  nothing,  as  then  no  play  will 
give  but  a  single  trick.  If  the  lead  is  from  the  ace,  kn, 
9,  8,  A,  likewise,  cannot  lose  by  covering  with  the  10, 
and  he  may  gain  a  trick  by  saving  partner's  king.  Once 
more: — 


B 


D 


*  * 

*** 

*  * 


*  * 

*&* 
*** 

*  * 


*      * 

**J 

* 


*** 

:*: 


**+ 


*+* 

**t 


If  D  leads  the  8,  A  gives  him  one  of  the  three  com- 
binations diagramed  above,  and  it  will  be  readily  seen 
that  if  the  lead  is  from  the  first  two,  the  k  makes  if  put 
up  the  first  round.  If  the  lead  is  from  the  last,  it  is  an 
even  chance  that  the  ace  is  with  B,  so  that  it  is  more  than 
two  to  one  that  the  k  makes  if  played  upon  the  8  led, 
second  hand,  holding  k,  10  only. 

Similar  arguments  apply  to  various  combinations,  such 
as  ace,  10;  qu,  10;  kn,  9  and  one  small  card.  These 
special  plays — second  hand — when  the  8  is  led,  follow  in 
tabular  form. 


114  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

TABLE   OF   SECOND-HAND   PLAY,  NO,   4. 


SECOND    HAND   HOLDING 


ace,  k — and  one  small 8 

ace,  10 — and  one  small 

k,  kn — only 

k,  10 — and  one  small 

k,  10 — only 

k,  9 — and  one  small 

k,  9 — only 

k — and  one  small 8 

qu,  10 — and  one  small 

qu,  10 — only 8 

qu,  9 — and  one  small 

qu,  9 — only 

kn,  9 — and  one  small 

kn.  9 — only 

10 — and  one  small..  8 


CARD  LED 


PLAYS 


small  * 
10 

k 

10 

k 


10 
10 

9 
9 

9 
9 

10 


*  If  weak  in  trumps,  play  k.     In  trump,  play  small. 


Analysts   of  Play    of  Second  Hand  when  the  7  is  Led. 

The  preceding  analysis  demonstrates  that  when  the  8 
is  led  as  a  fourth- best  card,  second  hand  holding  two 
cards  higher  than  the  8,  and  one  small  card  should 
nearly  always  cover  the  8.  When  the  7  is  led  as  the 
fourth-best  card,  the  same  principle  applies  if  second 
hand  holds  three  high  cards — /.  <?.,  three  higher  than  the 
7 — and  one  small  card.  The  conditions  are  analogous. 
The  object  in  covering  the  7,  as  in  the  case  of  the  8,  is 
that  you  may  save  a  high  card  for  partner;  and  while,  in 
many  cases,  this  may  not  gain  a  trick  in  the  suit,  it  must 
not  be  forgotten  that  so  long  as  a  high  card  like  the  ace, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  115 

k  or  qu  remains  in,  it  may  greatly  embarrass  the  leader 
and  render  his  game  less  aggressive.  This  not  infre- 
quently results  to  your  advantage  in  the  play  of  the 
other  suits.  Besides,  if  second  hand  covers  the  7  with  a 
card  like  the  10,  9  or  8,  and  it  holds  the  trick,  the  play 
is  very  informatory,  and  usually  much  more  information 
is  given  to  second  and  fourth  hand  than  to  leader  and 
third  hand  by  the  play. 

The  different  combinations  will  be  examined  in  detail. 


B 


I) 


It  will  be  seen  at  a  glance  that  if  D  leads  the  7,  and  A 
puts  on  the  kn  it  wins  the  trick  if  the  lead  is  from  either 
of  the  combinations  headed  by  the  qu.  If  the  lead  is 
from  the  suit  headed  by  the  10,  the  kn  may  lose  if  the 
qu  is  with  C,  but  it  is  an  even  chance  that  the  qu  is  with 
B.  The  advantage  in  playing  the  k  the  first  round  is 


n6 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


very  slight,  but  on  the  other  hand  if  the  k  is  played  the 
kn  is  almost  sure  to  make.  The  only  advantage  in  play- 
ing the  kn  is  that,  if  A  is  forced  to  next  lead  the  suit  (the 
kn  having  won),  he  is  sure  of  all  three  tricks  ;  when  if  he 
leads  from  the  tenace  he  must  lose  the  kn  if  qu  is  against. 
But  this  is  more  than  offset  by  the  fact  that  if  second 
hand  plays  kn,  and  it  loses,  it  defers  until  the  third  round 
the  bringing  home  of  the  ace.  Play  king. 


B 


only. 


D 


** 

*** 
*** 


If  D  leads  the  7,  from  either  the  first  or  second  com- 
bination in  the  above  diagram,  the  play  of  the  10  by  A 
gains  a  clear  trick — barring  trumps — as  against  the  play 
of  the  k.  If  the  lead  is  from  the  last  two  it  is  more  than 
an  even  chance  that  the  10  is  the  better  play  ;  for  the 
play  of  the  k  may  lose  a  trick  even  though  B  has  the  qu 
or  kn,  and  even  if  the  qu  or  kn  is  with  C  little,  if  any, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


117 


harm  can  come  from  the  play  of  the  10,  especially  if  A 
is  strong  in  trumps.  It  is  an  even  chance  that  10  wins 
the  trick  the  first  round.  The  7  led  as  an  original  lead, 
second  hand  holding  ace,  k,  10  only,  should  usually  play 
the  10,  especially  if  strong  in  trumps,  or  with  a  good  hand 
to  be  led  up  to.  In  trumps  play  10. 


*  * 

J*J 

*  •!• 


only. 


B 


D 


? 

*** 


*** 
*  * 

*** 


*** 

*  * 

*  * 


*  * 


*** 

* 
*  * 


If  second  hand  plays  the  9  on  the  7  led,  holding  ace, 
k,  9,  the  finesse  is  against  one  card  in  each  case,  and  this 
card  is  as  likely  to  be  with  B  as  with  C.  There  is  more 
justification  for  finesse  second  hand  against  the  declared 
strong  suit  of  the  opponent,  than  there  is  in  third  hand 
finesse  in  partner's  strong  suit.  It  is  true  that  if  A 
finesses  the  9  here,  and  it  loses  to  C,  he  defers  until  the 
third  round  the  bringing  home  of  the  ace,  and  C  may  be 
short  of  the  suit  and  trump  the  ace  or  king  ;  but  it  must 
not  be  forgotten  that  B  is  just  as  likely  to  be  the  one 


n8 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


who  is  short,  and  that  if  C  does  eventually  trump  A's 
master  card,  it  costs  him  a  trump,  and  this  may  be  the 
best  possible  thing  for  A  and  B's  game.  Unquestionably, 
the  cards  may  lie  so  that  the  finesse  may  lose,  but  the 
writer  believes  that  the  advantage  is  largely  in  favor  of 
the  play  of  the  9.  If  the  card  A  finesses  against — the  qu, 
kn,  or  10 — is  with  C,  he  cannot  reasonably  expect  to  make 
more  than  two  tricks  in  the  suit  by  any  play  ;  if  the  card 
is  with  partner,  he  must  make  three  tricks  if  he  finesses, 
but  he  may  make  only  two  if  he  plays  the  k.  Second 
hand  holding  ace,  k,  9  only,  7  led,  should,  if  the  situa- 
tion and  his  hand  justifies  any  finesse,  play  9.  In  trumps, 
unless  desirous  of  stopping  the  lead,  play  9. 


:*: 


only. 


B 


*  * 

**+ 
**+ 

** 


*  * 

*** 
+** 
*_* 

*  * 

*** 
*** 

*  * 


:*: 


" 
* 


* 

*  * 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  119 

The   same    arguments    apply    as    in    the    preceding 
example.     Suppose  the  following  : — 


*  * 

* 


C 


*    * 
* 

*_._*] 


B 


D 


>•>** 
**** 


i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  k;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  4. 

Now,  if  A,  C,  or  B  next  lead  the  suit,  A  B  have  but 
two  tricks.  If  D  next  leads  the  suit,  A,  to  be  consistent, 
must  play  ace  ;  for  if  he  was  not  justified  in  finessing  the 
8  the  first  round,  he  certainly  is  not  now,  and  A  B  have 
but  two  tricks  in  the  suit.  If  the  hands  of  C  and  B  are 
exchanged,  no  harm  is  done  by  the  finesse  of  the  8,  as 
no  play  will  yield  more  than  two  tricks.  If,  in  this 
instance,  C  has  the  kn  only,  or  the  kn  and  one  small,  A, 
if  he  finesses  the  8,  may  have  his  ace  or  k  trumped,  but 
it  does  not  follow  that  this  is  a  loss  to  A — it  may  be 
a  gain.  If  the  lead  is  from  the  qu,  kn,  9,  7,  the  chances 
are  more  in  favor  of  the  finesse  ;  if  from  kn,  10,  9,  7 — less, 


120 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


as  the  play  of  the  8  cannot  gain  unless  A  finds  B  with 
the  qu  single,  or  qu  and  one  small  card.  Neither  can 
the  play  of  the  8  lose,  in  the  case  just  cited— (D  leading 
from  kn,  TO,  9,  7) — unless  C  is  found  with  qu  single,  or 
singly  guarded,  except  that  B  may  be  void  of  the  suit, 
and  the  finesse  subjects  him  to  an  unprofitable  force.  In 
plain  suits  or  trumps,  play  8,  unless  desirous  of  stopping 
the  play  of  the  suit. 


and  one  or  more 
small.     Play 


**: 


and  one  small. 


B 


D 


:*: 


*** 
*** 


*** 

* 

**+ 

*** 

* 

*** 


*  * 
*** 


:*: 


>** 

•f  4. 

!•_+ 


++* 


*** 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


121 


Here  the  play  by  A  of  the  10  is  clearly  best.  If  the 
lead  is  from  the  first  or  second  combination,  the  lowins, 
and  leaves  A  with  the  perfect  tenace.  If  the  lead  is  from 
the  kn,  9,  3,  7,  the  10  holds  the  trick  or  forces  the  play 
of  the  k,  and  if  C  has  k  the  play  of  the  qu  may  lose  a 
trick.  A  may  lose  a  trick  if  the  lead  is  from  k,  9,  8,  7,  if 
the  kn  is  with  C,  but  it  is  just  as  likely  to  be  with  B.  In 
plain  suits  or  trumps,  play  10. 


and  one  small. 


+_+J 


Second  hand  holding  ace,  qu,  9  etc.,  the  7  led,  should 
play  small.  If  he  covers  the  7,  and  the  9  loses  to  either 
the  k,  kn  or  10,  the  sacrifice  of  the  9  may  lose  a  trick, 
and  second  hand  has  nothing  to  gain,  except,  possibly, 


122 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


when  the  lead  is  from  the  kn,  10,  8,  7,  and  fourth  hand 
has  the  k.     Suppose  the  following: — 


*  *  * 

*  *  * 


**** 

*     * 

**** 


*    * 

*A* 

*** 


i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  9;  C  plays  10;  B  plays  3. 

2. — C  leads  6;  B  plays  4;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  qu. 

Here  the  8  forces  the  qu  and  a  trick  is  lost  for  had  A 
played  small  he  would  then  have  held  over  D,  and  he 
gains  nothing  if  the  9  wins.  Play  small. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


I23 


and  one  or  more  small. 


Here  the  case  is  different.  A's  8  cannot  make  except 
on  the  first  round,  and  if  it  loses  to  C  no  harm  is  done; 
if  it  holds  the  trick  it  is  a  clear  gain  in  some  situations. 
Take  the  following: — 


B 


D 


*     * 


**** 


124 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  6. 

2  (C  to  lead). — C  leads  5;  B  plays  k;  D  plays  3;  A 
plays  2. 

A  B  have  four  tricks  in  the  suit.  If  A  does  not  cover 
the  7,  B  must  play  the  k,  and  no  play  will  yield  more 
than  three  tricks.  Second  hand  holding  ace,  qu,  8  etc., 
7  led,  should  play  the  8,  either  in  plain  suits  or  trumps. 


*** 
*** 


and  one  or  more  small. 


Second  hand  holding  ace,  kn,  10  and  others,  7  led, 
should  play  small  in  plain  suits,  in  trumps  the  10.  The 
lead  is  from  the  k  or  qu  and  9,  8,  7  and  the  10  may  lose 
and  cannot  gain.  In  trumps  the  leader  may  have  both 
k  and  qu  and  the  10  should  be  played. 


*** 
*** 

*    * 


and  one  or  more  small. 


B 


-5.  * 


D 


*** 

*** 


**: 


*• 
*  * 

*t+ 

s? 


*** 


*A«J- 
4.  4. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  125 

Second  hand  is  in  much  the  same  position  here  as  when 
holding  the  ace,  qu,  9  etc.  If  he  covers  the  7,  and  it 
holds  the  trick,  little,  if  anything,  is  gained.  If  the  9 
loses  to  the  k  or  qu,  he  may  lose  a  trick.  In  either  trumps 
or  plain  suits,  play  small. 


ii. 


and  one  small. 


B 


*** 
*   * 

*** 


D 


*    * 

*** 
*** 


*      * 

+ 
* 

* 


Second  hand   is  in  the  same  situation  here,  as  when 
holding  ace,  qu,  8  etc.,  the  7  led,  the  play  of  the  8  may 


126 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


gain  a  clear  trick  and  cannot  possibly  do  any  harm.  Sup- 
pose this  case: — 


*  * 


*  * 

*  * 

*  * 

* 

*_* 

*_..* 

*+* 

*   * 

*** 


D 


i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  5. 

2  (D  to  lead).— D  leads  9;  A  plays  2;  C  plays  4;  B 
plays  k. 

If  B  now  comes  through  D,  A  B  have  four  tricks  in  the 
suit.  If  A  does  not  cover,  no  play  will  yield  more  than 
three  tricks. 

If  the  hands  of  C  and  B  are  exchanged,  A  gains  noth- 
ing by  covering  the  7;  neither  does  he  lose  anything. 
Play  the  8  in  plain  suits  or  trumps. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


127 


12. 


nad  one  or  more  small. 


B 


** 


4.  -+\ 

*.* 
4-** 


*+* 

V 
*** 


A     A 
A     4. 


*** 
A     A 

A     A 


Second  hand  has  nothing  to  gain  by  covering  the  7 
led,  holding  the  ace,  TO,  9,  etc.,  and  he  may  lose  by  the 
play.  Suppose  the  following: — 


*  * 

A      4, 

4.     A 

* 

A     A 

4.      A 

B 


C 


*   *• 


4.  •  4. 


128 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST, 


i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  9;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  5. 

2. — C  leads  4;  B  plays  6;  D  plays  kn;  A  plays  ace. 

If  A  is  now  forced  to  lead  the  suit  he  will  take  no 
other  trick  in  the  suit.  This  would  not  be  the  case  had 
he  played  low  the  first  round,  as  then  he  would  be  left 
with  the  10,  9  and  must  take  two  tricks  in  the  suit.  On 
the  other  hand,  suppose  that  covering  the  7  does  save 
the  k  for  partner,  nothing  is  gained  by  the  play.  Ex- 
change the  hands  of  C  and  B,  and  then — 

i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  2;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  k. 

2  (C  to  lead).— C  leads  6;  B  plays  3;  D  plays  kn;  A 
plays  ace. 

And  A  B  have  three  tricks  in  the  suit,  no  matter  who 
next  leads  the  suit,  and  no  play  will  do  more.  Play  low 
in  either  trumps  or  plain  suits. 


and  one  or  more  small. 


B 


*** 

*'* 

*** 
*** 


D 


** 


*** 
*** 


*v* 
* 


With  this  holding  second  hand  should  cover  the  7  led, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


I29 


as  the  play  cannot  lose  and  may  result  in  gain.  It  is 
quite  clear  that  the  8  can  have  no  trick-making  value 
after  the  first  round,  for  the  leader  must  have  three  cards 
all  higher  than  the  8.  If  the  8  is  put  up  the  first  round 
it  may  save  partner's  k  or  qu  and  under  certain  condi- 
tions a  clean  trick  may  be  gained.  If  the  8  falls  to  third 
hand,  no  harm  is  done.  Play  8. 


14. 


*** 

*** 

** 


and  one  small. 


Second  hand  should  play  qu.  If  the  10  is  played  and 
it  wins,  there  is  little,  if  any,  advantage  gained.  If  the 
TO  loses,  a  trick  may  be  lost.  There  is  more  chance  of 
the  10  making  the  second  or  third  round  than  there  is 
the  first.  Play  queen. 


and  one  or  more 
small.     Play 

and  one  or  more 
small.     Play 

and  one  or  more 
small.     Play 


and  one  or  more  small. 


1 3o 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


B 


D 


*   * 

+*+ 
*** 


*'* 

*** 
*** 


*&* 
*** 


*: 


' 


** 


V 

*** 


V 

*** 


*** 


*   * 


*** 

*  * 

*  * 


With  this  combination  second  hand  has  little,  if  any- 
thing, to  gain  by  covering  the  7  led,  and  if  the  9  loses  to 
the  ace,  qu  or  10  in  third  hand,  his  hand  is  weakened  to 
no  purpose,  and  a  trick  may  be  lost.  Play  low. 


19. 


*** 

V 
*** 


and  one  or  more  small. 


B 


*+* 

v 

*** 


._*__ 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  131 

When  the  7  is  led,  second  hand  holding  k,  kn,  8,  etc., 
has  nothing  to  gain  by  covering,  if  the  lead  is  from  the 
ace  high  combinations,  as  the  card  he  may  save  for  part- 
ner is  too  low  in  rank  to  be  of  advantage  to  their  com- 
bined hands.  No  loss,  however,  can  come  from  playing 
the  8.  But  if  the  lead  is  from,  the  qu,  10,  9,  7,  A  may 
gain  a  clear  trick  by  covering  the  7,  and  cannot  lose. 
For  example  : — 


*  * 

* 

* 

4-    * 

•!• 

i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  3. 

2  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  4;  D  plays  9;  A  plays  kn;  C 
plays  6. 

3 — A  leads  2;  C  renounces;  B  plays  ace;  D  plays  10 
— and  D  has  not  a  trick  in  the  suit.  If,  on  the  other 


I32 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


hand,  A  does  not  cover,  the  7  forces  partner's  ace,  and 
D  must  make  a  trick.  If  the  ace  is  with  third  hand  no 
harm  is  done.  Play  8. 


20. 


*A* 
*** 

*A* 
*** 


** 
*      * 


and  one  or  more  small. 


B 


*^> 
*,* 


D 


** 


* 


±^ 

*** 

.  * 

+++ 


** 


*    + 


A     A 


*     * 
A     A 


With  k,  10,  9,  etc.,  second  hand  should  pass  the  7  led. 
When  the  lead  is  from  a  combination  headed  by  the  ace, 
there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  covering,  and  loss  may 
result.  When  the  lead  is  from  the  qu,  kn,  8,  7,  the  play 
of  the  9  may  gain  a  trick,  but  it  may  also  lose  a  trick. 
Play  low. 


21. 


*       * 
AA4- 


* 
* 

** 


and  one  or  more  small, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


133 


B 


D 


*  * 

*&* 
*** 

*      * 


** 

V 
*** 


When  the  7  is  led,  and  second  hand  holds  k,  9,  8  he 
knows  the  ace  and  10,  and  either  qu  or  kn,  is  with  the 
leader.  Second  hand  may  gain  a  trick  under  certain 
contingencies  by  covering  the  7,  and  he  cannot  lose. 
Note  the  following: — 


^ 


* 


B 


D 


*  * 

*A* 
*** 

*  4- 


4.^4, 


*+* 


134 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  3. 

2.  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  4;  D  plays  10;  A  plays  k;  C 
renounces. 

3.  (D  to  lead). — D  leads  ace;  A  plays  2;  C  renounces; 
B  plays  5. 

B's  qu  is  now  good  and  A  B  have  three  tricks  in  the 
suit.  On  the  other  hand,  if  A  does  not  cover — 

i — D  leads  7;  A  plays  2;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  qu. 

Now,  no  matter  how  or  by  whom  the  suit  is  next  led 
A  B  can  take  but  two  tricks.  The  chances  here  for 
gain  by  covering  are  slight;  but,  also,  no  risk  is  run. 
Play  8. 


22. 


:*: 


*** 

:*: 


and  one  or  more  small. 


If  the  7  is  from  either  of  the  first  two  combinations, 
there  is  little  advantage  in  covering  the  7,  except  in  the 
way  of  the  information  it  imparts.  When  the  lead  is 
from  the  qu,  kn,  9,  7,  the  8  will  save  the  ace— if  with 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


135 


partner,  if  with  third  hand,  it  is  no  sacrifice  as  the  8,  in 
this  case,  has  no  more  value  than  the  deuce.     Play  8. 


only. 


When  the  7  is  led,  second  hand  holding  k,  kn  only, 
should  play  the  k.  The  lead  can  be  from  any  of  ten 
combinations.  In  six  of  these  the  leader  has  the  ace, 
and  the  k  makes.  In  one  combination  the  leader  has  no 
court  card  and  the  k  will  make  the  first  round  or  not  at 
all;  for  if  the  third  hand  has  the  major  tenace  he  finesses 
qu;  if  partner  has  qu  the  k  loses,  but  the  qu  and  kn  will 
make.  So  that  there  are  seven  of  the  ten  situations  in 
favor  of  the  play  of  k  second  hand  upon  the  7  led;  and 
in  the  other  three,  it  is  an  even  chance  that  the  ace  is 
with  partner.  Play  k. . 


and  one  or  more  small. 


B 


D 


A       A 

*v* 

*     * 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Second  hand  holding  qu,  kn,  9  and  one  or  more  small, 
has  nothing  to  gain  by  playing  the  9  upon  the  7  led,  and 
he  may  lose.  Play  low. 


25- 


*  * 

*&* 
*** 

*  * 


only. 


To  the  7  led,  second  hand  should  of  course  play  the 

9 — it  must  force  the  ace  or  k,  or  hold   the  trick.  In 

trumps,  however,  play  kn,  as  leader  may  have  both  ace 
and  k. 


*** 

*  * 

*** 


and  one  or  more  small. 


D 


*** 
*** 

** 


*&* 
*** 

*** 
*** 


* 

*** 
*** 

*    * 


*  * 

*** 
*** 

*  4- 


*  * 

*  * 


*** 

4.    ^ 

4.    4. 


Second  hand  should  play  the  8,  as  it  may  save  the 
ace  or  k  for  partner.  If  the  court  card  is  with  third 
hand  no  harm  is  done.  The  advantages  in  favor  of  cov- 
ering the  7  are  very  slight,  it  is  true,  but  there  are  no 
risks  attending  the  play.  Suppose  the  following:  - 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


137 


*  * 

* 

* 

*    * 

* 

B 


*? 

*** 


D 


**** 
*    *• 

4* -I- 4*  4* 


i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  3. 

Now,  no  matter  how  or  by  whom  the  suit  is  next  led, 
D  can  make  but  the  single  trick.  Suppose  A  is  forced 
to  continue  the  suit,  he  leads  the  deuce,  knowing  that  B 
has  either  ace  or  k.  But  if  A  passes  the  7,  and  is  forced 
to  lead  the  suit,  D  has  the  chance  of  two  tricks,  as — 

i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  2;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  k. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  qu;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  3;  D 
plays  ace. 

D  must  now  make  two  tricks  in  the  suit.  Suppose, 
again,  that  the  ace  and  k  change  places  in  the  above 
diagram,  then: — 

i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  2;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  ace. 

If  A  is  forced  to  next  lead  the  suit,  D  must  next  take 
two  tricks,  and,  besides,  he  can  now  take  the  next  trick, 
and  then  force  C,  if  he  cares  to,  and  this  might  be  an 
advantage  to  his  game.  The  play  of  the  8  by  A  insures 


138  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

the  first  two  tricks  in  the  suit,  and  D's  k  will  not  make 
until  the  third  round  of  the  suit.  These  points  of  advan- 
tage are  all  gained  by  the  cover,  and  no  loss  can  possibly 
attend  the  play.  Play  8. 


*+* 

V 
*** 


only. 


In  plain  suits  it  is  useless  to  play  kn,  as  the  8  must 
force  the  ace  or  k  if  against.  In  trumps  play  kn,  as 
leader  may  have  both  ace  and  k. 


28. 


and  one  or  more  small. 


B 


*&* 
*** 

*   * 


D 


*** 

V 
*** 


*  * 
*** 


*** 

*  * 


*** 


If  second  hand  covers  the  7   in  this  situation,  he  may 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


139 


lose  a  trick  if  the  9  falls  to  either  the  ace  or  k  in  C's 
hand,  and  if  he  finds  the  court  card  with  B,  little  advan- 
tage is  gained.  The  risk  of  loss  is  greater  than  the 
probability  of  gain.  Play  low. 


29. 


V* 


and  one  or  more  small. 


B 


D 


:*: 
:*: 


*** 

v 
*** 


*v* 

* 


*•*•* 
*    4- 


»»; 


:*: 


The  case  is  different  here.  A's  8  cannot  possibly 
make  a  trick,  or  assist  in  making  one,  if  not  on  the  first 
round,  consequently  no  loss  attends  the  play  of  the  8 
upon  the  7  led.  The  cover  maybe  advantageous  for  the 
same  reasons  as  pointed  out  in  the  analysis  of  No.  26. 
Play  8. 


140 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


*** 
*  * 

**+ 


and  one  or  more  small. 


B 


*   * 
*** 


V 

+** 


D 


** 

*** 
*** 


*** 
*     * 

4.     4. 


When  second  hand  holds  qu,  9,  8,  and  one  or  more 
small  of  a  suit,  the  7  led,  he  reads  at  once  that  the 
leader  must  have  exactly  ace,  kn,  10,  7,  and  he  should, 
of  course,  cover  the  7.  The  play  may  gain,  and  it  cannot 
lose.  Give  B  the  k,  6,  5  and  C  the  4,  3  in  the  above 
diagram,  and  then: — 

i. — D  leads  7;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  5. 

It  requires  no  argument  to  show  that  the  hands  of  A 
and  B  are  stronger  after  the  first  round,  if  A  plays  the  8 
than  they  are  if  he  plays  the  deuce.  Play  8. 


:*: 


*** 

v 
*** 


and  one  or  more  small. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


141 


B 


D 


*** 

*** 


*** 


*** 

•$••!• 


. 

*  * 

4.     •?, 


The  situation  here  is  almost  identical  with  the  pre- 
ceding one.     See  analysis  of  No.  30.     Play  8. 


32. 


+*: 


and  one  or  more  small. 


B 


D 


^ 


142 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


When  the  7  is  led,  second  hand  holding  the  kn,  9,  8 
knows  the  leader  remains  with  the  double  tenace  only, 
and  that  the  k  is  to  his  left.  In  the  event  of  B  holding 
k  and  three  small,  there  is  an  advantage  in  covering  the 
7 — if  D  goes  on  with  the  suit.  Give  B  the  k,  6,  5,  3,  C 
the  4,  and  then: 

1.  D  leads  7;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  3. 

2.  (D  to  lead.)     D  leads  ace;  A  plays  2;  C  renounces; 
B  plays  5. 

If  D  now  leads,  or  if  led  through  and  finesses  the  10, 
A  B  take  three  tricks  in  the  suit.  This  they  could  not 
do,  if  A  does  not  cover  the  7.  Even  if  no  trick  is  gained 
in  the  suit,  it  embarrasses  D's  game,  and  no  loss  can 
result.  Play  8. 


33- 


*A* 
*** 

*A* 

*** 


*A* 

:*: 


and  one  or  more  small. 


* 

B 

* 

C                                 D 

ffi 

Ifll 

A 

1 

*A*    *.*      *   1 

0  v 

**A  A*  A     A  ! 

*  * 

*A* 

*** 


*** 
*** 


** 
* 


*      * 

*A* 
*** 

* 


:*: 

*    * 


v- 
AVA 

^± 

*** 

*     A 


*     * 
A      A 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


143 


When  second  hand  holds  the  10,  8  and  one  or  more 
small,  the  7  led,  he  cannot  lose  by  covering  with  the  8.  If 
the  lead  is  from  the  first  combination  diagramed  the  play 
is  practically  immaterial;  if  from  the  second,  the  play  of 
the  8  may  gain  a  trick  if  B  has  k,  qu,  and  small;  if  from 
the  third,  the  play  of  the  8  may  save  for  B  the  major 
tenace — and  end  in  gain  ;  if  from  the  last  the  8  may 
leave  B  with  both  ace  and  k,  and  gain  a  clear  trick. 
Play  8. 

The  following  tables  serve  as  a  summary  of  the  anal- 
ysis of  Second-Hand  play  when  the  7  is  led  as  an 
original  lead. 


TABLE  OF   SECOND-HAND   PLAY,    NO.    5. 


SECOND    HAND    HOLDING 

CARD  LED 

PLAYS 

ace,  k,  kn  —  with  or  without  others  

7 

k 

ace,  k,  10—  only  

7 

IO 

ace,  k,  9  —  only  

7 

ace,  k,  8  —  only  ."....:  

7 

g 

ace,  qu,  kn  —  and  onesOr  more  small.. 

7 

kn 

ace  qu    10  —  and  one  smalt  ^ 

7 

IO 

ace,  qu,  9  —  and  one  or  more  small.  .  . 

7 

small 

ace,  qu,  8  —  and  one  or  more  small.  .  . 

7 

8 

ace,  kn,  10  —  and  one  or  more  small.. 

7 

small  * 

ace,  kn,  9  —  and  one  or  more  small  

7 

small 

ace,  kn,  8  —  and  one  or  more  small.  .  . 

7 

8 

ace,  10,  9  —  and  one  or  more  small  

7 

small 

ace,  10,  8  —  and  one  or  more  sm&ll... 

7 

8 

*  In  trumps  play  10. 

144  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

TABLE   OF   SECOND-HAND   PLAY,   NO.   6. 


SECOND   HAND   HOLDING 


k,  qu,  10 — with  or  without  others 7 

k,  qu,  9 — with  or  without  others 7 

k,  qu,  8 — with  or  without  others 7 

k,  kn,  10 — with  or  without  others 7 

k,  kn,  9 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

k,  kn,  8 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

k,  10,  9 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

k,  9,  8 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

k,  10,  8 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

k,  kn — only 7 

qu,  kn,  9 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

qu,  kn,  9 — only 7 

qu,  kn,  8 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

qu,  kn,  8 — only 7 

qu,  10,  9— and  one  or  more  small 7 

qu,  10,  8 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

qu,  9,  8 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

kn,  10,  8 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

kn,  9,  8 — and  one  or  more  small 7 

10,  8 — and  one  or  more  small 7 


CARD  LED 


PLAYS 


qu 

qu 

qu 

10 
small 

8 
small 

8 

8 

k 

small 
9* 

8* 
small 


*  In  trumps  play  kn. 


Second  hand  should  ever  be  on  the  alert  to  cover  the 
card  led,  when  it  may  strengthen  partner's  hand,  and  not 
weaken  his  own.  It  is  understood  that  partner  will  not 
read  such  play  as  a  call  for  trumps.  When  second  hand 
throws  a  card  like  the  10  or  9  upon  the  8  led,  or  the  10, 
9  or  8  upon  the  7,  and  afterwards  plays  a  lower  card,  // 
is  not  a  call  for  trumps.  Usually  second  hand  can  cover 
and  also  call.  Take — ace,  10,  9;  k,  10,  9;  qu,  10,  9;  qu, 
9,  8;  and  kn,  9,  8 — second  hand,  for  instance,  wishing 
to  cover  the  7,  and  call,  plays  the  10  or  9,  as  the  case 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


145 


may  be,  /.  e.,  he  covers  with  the  higher  of  the  two  in 
sequence.  If  he  does  not  wish  to  ask  for  trumps,  he 
covers  with  the  lower,  and  on  the  second  round  he  can 
frequently  play  the  higher  of  the  two  in  sequence,  and 
not  the  small  card,  as  pointed  out  in  the  next  illustra- 
tion— thus  making  the  play  perfectly  clear. 

It  is  only  in  an  exceptional  distribution  of  a  suit  that 
second  hand  may  be  able  to  count  the  leader's  hand 
with  much  accuracy,  when  a  card  of  lower  rank  than  the 
7  is  led;  still,  he  sometimes  can.  Suppose  D  leads  the 
6,  A,  holding  9,  8,  7,  2  of  the  suit,  should  cover  the  6,  as 
it  may  save  the  k  or  qu  for  partner,  to  their  mutual 
advantage.  Take  this  case: — 


*   * 
4.   * 


*  * 
* 

*  * 


B 


* 

*** 
*** 

*    4- 


*** 

*  * 

*  * 


D 


If   D   leads   the   6,  A   knows    that   the  lead   is  from 


146  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

exactly  four  cards  and  from  one  of  the  two  combinations 
given  above — 

i. — D  leads  6  (from  ace,  kn,  10,  6);  A  plays  7;  C  plays 
four;  B  plays  3 

2  (D  to  lead). — D  leads  ace;  A  plays  8;C  renounces; 
B  plays  5. 

B's  k  and  qu  hold  over  D,  and  the  play  gains  a  trick, 
for  if  A  does  not  cover,  the  6  costs  partner's  qu.  Note 
that  A,  in  the  second  round,  plays  the  8,  and  not  the 
deuce,  so  that  B  may  be  relieved  of  any  doubt  about  A 
calling.  Had  A  wished  to  ask  for  trumps  he  would  have 
covered  with  the  8  and  on  the  second  round  of  the  suit 
thrown  the  7.  Note,  also,  that  B  cannot  be  in  doubt  as 
to  the  location  of  the  deuce,  as  it  must  be  with  A,  for  D 
has  shown  four  cards  only  in  the  suit. 

Second  hand  can  often  cover  the  lead  the  second 
round  of  the  suit  to  great  advantage,  as  will  be  pointed 
out  further  on,  and  not  infrequently  on  the  third  round, 
second  hand  can  save  or  lose  a  trick  by  covering  or  not 
covering,  as  the  situation  demands. 

In  trumps  the  card  turned  may  very  often  direct 
second  hand  to  a  successful  finesse  or  a  judicious  cover. 
These  are  the  clever  little  points  that  the  careful  player 
does  not  miss,  and  the  careless  player  rarely  takes  advan- 
tage of.  For  example,  if  C  has  the  8  turned,  and  D 
leads  the  7,  the  latter  has  the  rank  of  the  8  as  a  fourth- 
best  card,  as  far  as  D's  hand  is  concerned,  and  A,  second 
hand,  will  play  accordingly.  Suppose  the  following: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


147 


*  * 

4.     * 

*  * 


*     * 
* 


B 


This  is  the  trump  suit,  C  turning  the  9.  D  has  called, 
but  getting  in  before  C,  leads  them: 

i. — D  leads  7.  Now,  if  A  cares  to  stop  the  lead  of 
trumps,  he  plays  the  kn,  with  the  assurance  that  the  kn 
will  win,  as  he  can  read  the  ace,  qu  with  D. 


Exceptional  Hands. 

Exceptional  situations  and  hands  have  been  referred 
to,  and  the  student  has  been  assured  that  in  such  posi- 
tions he  must  exercise  his  own  ingenuity,  and  not  follow 


i48 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


the  "  book  play,"  unless  it  fits  the  case.     Here   is   an 
example  of  an  exceptional  hand.    C's  Hand: 


v 


Diamonds  trumps.  A  leads  the  2  c;  the  usual  play 
for  C  is  the  qu,  holding  k,  qu,  and  small,  but  with  this 
hand  C  should  play  the  3.  If  D  wins  the  trick,  so  much 
the  better;  if  it  falls  to  B,  C  must  still  profit  by  it  (most 
likely),  for  B  must  then  open  up  a  suit  to  C's  immediate 
gain,  he  holding  tenaces  in  all  the  suits.  Again,  suppose 
that  A  had  opened  with  the  3  of  diamonds,  trump;  C 
would  have  departed  from  rule,  and  played  the  3,  not 
the  10. 

Covering  second  hand  holding  a  fourchette,  is  a  rule 
you  might  suppose  should  never  be  departed  from,  yet 
even  in  this  case  you  may  find  it  expedient  to  pass.  For 
example,  A  leads  trumps. from  kn,  6,  3,  to  protect  two 
great  suits  developed  by  the  play;  C  holds  k,  qu,  10,  2 
in  trumps,  and  having  a  great  suit  besides,  does  not 
object  to  having  trumps  come  out — throws  the  deuce;  B 
holding  8,  7,  5,  4  plays  the  5;  D,  with  the  ace,  9  wins 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


149 


tne  trick  and  opens,  with  a  strengthening  card,  the  suit 
that  must  be  C's — C  wins  the  trick,  draws  the  trumps, 
and  brings  in  his  great  suit;  had  he  covered  the  kn,  he 
might  have  ruined  his  game.  Again:  A  may  lead  trumps 
early  in  the  hand  from  k,  qu,  kn;  C  holding  ace,  10,  3,  2, 
and  one  great  suit,  may  pass  the  k  and  qu,  and  by  the 
play  draw  all  the  trumps,  although  B  has  the  9  and  three 
others — and  a  great  game  results. 

The  Second  Round  of  a  Suit. 

In  the  second  round  of  a  suit  you  must  be  careful  to 
play  the  proper  card.  The  good  general  rule — "  In  the 
second  round  of  a  suit  if  you  have  the  winning  card, 
generally  put  it  on  second  hand  " — should  usually  be 
followed,  but  owing  to  the  improved  order  of  leads, 
second  hand  can  frequently  count  the  leader's  hand,  and 
finesse  accordingly.  The  fall  to  the  first  round  may 
enable  you  to  place  the  cards.  Suppose  the  following: — 


150  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

First  round. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  4;  D 
plays  2. 

Second  Round. — A  leads  9;  C  plays  kn,  and  not  the 
k  for  he  can  count  A's  hand.  Again: — 


*   * 


** 


B 


D 


*** 

*** 

*** 
*** 

*** 

*  * 
4.  * 

* 
* 
* 

First  Round. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  4;  D 
plays  9. 

Second  Round. — A  leads  7;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  5;  D 
plays  6. 

C  plays  the  8  here,  even  though  he  has  tiuo  sure  win- 
ning cards  in  the  suit.  In  this  instance  he  can  count 
the  cards  in  A's  hand  by  his  partner  playing  the  9,  call- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  151 

ing.  C.  simply  follows  the  rule,  for  he  has  in  fact  three 
winning  cards  and  throws  the  lowest  of  the  three.  The 
careless  player  second  hand,  on  the  second  and  third 
rounds  of  a  suit  loses  many  a  trick.  In  such  a  situation 
as  this,  A  would  have  been  justified  in  going  on  with  the 
three,  for  the  purpose  of  not  giving  C  the  certain  finesse. 
Here  is  another  example: — 


B 


*** 
*    * 

*** 


D 


.  * 

* 

4* 

* 

L._* 

_*_ 

_J*_ 

First  Round. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  10;  D 
plays  9. 

Suppose  A  leads  the  suit,  again  following  with  the 
fourth-best,  C  can  count  the  cards,  although  the  card  is 


152  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

as  low  as  the  4,  and  he  just  covers  with  the  6,  knowing 
that  it  is  just  as  good  as  the  qu  and  thus  keeps  control 
of  the  suit.  A,  here,  should  of  course  depart  from  rule, 
and  lead  the  3 — not  the  4.  On  the  other  hand,  C  can 
often  save  a  master  card  for  D  by  covering  second  round 
with  a  third  or  fourth-best  card.  Take  this  case: — 


*** 

*** 

*  * 

*  * 

*** 

*  * 

B 


*  * 

** 

*** 

*  * 


D 


*  * 


First  Round. — A  leads  3;  C  plays  2  B;  plays  kn;  D 
plays  qu. 

Second  Round  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  5;  C  plays  10;  B 
plays  7;  D  plays  6. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


153 


If  C  throws  the  4,  the  7  in  B's  hand  forces  the  ace  and 
a  trick  is  thrown  away.  Sometimes  you  can  count  the 
cards  so  that  you  finesse  the  second  round,  against  a 
possible  card.  This  is  often  justifiable.  Suppose  the 
following: — 


*  *  * 


* 


*** 


B 


*  * 

*  * 


D 


First  Round. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  kn;  D 
plays  qu. 

C  can  do  some  counting  here;  B  cannot  have  the  10  as 
he  would  have  played  it,  if  not  calling,  and  he  notes  this 
inference  for  use  further  on. 

Second  Round  (say  A  leads  the  suit  again),  A  leads  6; 


154  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

C  plays  4;  B  plays  7;  D  plays  10.  C  holds  up  both  ace 
and  9 — thus  keeping  control  of  the  suit  and  if  D  now 
leads  through  A,  he  (A)  cannot  make  a  trick  in  the  suit. 
C  would  play  badly  to  throw  either  the  ace  or  9,  for  when 
A  followed  with  the  6,  the  10  was  at  once  marked  with 
D;  it  could  not  be  with  A  unless  he  opened  the  suit  with 
the  10  high  as  with  k,  10,  6,  A  would  have  gone  on  with 
the  10  thus  forcing  the  play  of  the  ace. 

Examples  without  number  could  be  given  illustrating 
the  necessity  for  careful  work  by  second  hand  the  second 
round  of  a  suit,  but  the  foregoing  will  suffice. 

You  must  consider  the  rank  of  the  card  led.  The 
deuce,  for  instance,  proclaims  a  suit  of  exactly  four,  and 
there  is,  therefore,  a  greater  probability  of  the  suit  going 
three  times,  and  you  may  finesse  accordingly.  If  a 
higher  card  is  led  the  leader  may  have  five,  six,  or  more. 
You  must  remember  the  card  turned,  its  rank  and  posi- 
tion to  you.  An  eye  must  also  be  on  the  score,  for  you 
will  hazard  a  finesse,  that  you  would  otherwise  not  make, 
when  the  game  is  desperate.  After  trumps  have  been 
declared  against  you,  you  are  at  once  put  upon  the  de- 
fense, and  you  play  to  keep  command  of  your  opponent's 
suits  as  long  as  practicable.  If  the  trumps  are  evidently 
with  you,  your  play  is  the  more  aggressive. 

Late  in  hand  you  must  be  on  the  alert  for  forced  leads 
and  coups.  For  instance,  k  led  after  trumps  are  out,  may 
be  the  Deschapelles  coup,  from  four  or  more  small  ones, 
for  the  purpose  of  forcing  the  ace  at  once,  that  the  pos- 
sible qu  in  third  hand  may  be  good.  If  you  suspect  this 
coup  do  not  part  with  the  ace  the  first  round  as  you  may 
in  this  way  defeat  it. 

With  four  cards  only  in  hand,  you  holding  the  best 
and  third-best  trump  against  the  second  and  fourth-best, 
you  should  throw  the  highest  of  any  two  cards  of  a  plain 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


155 


suit  led.     You  cannot  lose  by  the  play  and   may  gain  a 
trick.     For  example: — 


This  is  a  typical  case.  Hearts,  trumps,  were  first  led 
by  A,  and  the  9,  7  are  marked  in  his  hand.  Spades  have 
not  been  led. 

i. — A  leads  ace  s;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  3;  D  plays  7. 

C  properly  throws  the  king,  for  if  A  has  the  qu,  C  can- 
not by  any  play  make  more  than  two  tricks,  and  if  C 
finds  the  qu  of  spades  with  D,  he  gains  a  clear  trick  by 
the  play.  As  the  cards  happen  to  lie  C  will  make  only 
the  two  trump  tricks,  had  he  played  the  4  s,  he  would 
have  made  one  spade  trick  and  lost  a  trump  trick.  If, 
however,  we  give  D  the  qu  s,  then  D  makes  a  trick  in 
spades  and  C  makes  both  his  trump  tricks.  This  cannot 
be  done  if  C  retains  the  k  s. 


I$6  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Second  Hand  Renouncing. 

When  second  hand  has  none  of  the  suit  led,  he  has 
choice  of  two  things — trump  or  discard.  The  situation 
is  always  worthy  of  due  deliberation.  Every  phase  of 
the  position  should  be  duly  weighed  before  you  elect  to 
do  either.  If  it  is  early  in  the  hand,  and  the  card  led  is 
a  doubtful  one — one  your  partner  may  win  if  you  pass — 
you  should  not  trump  unless  you  are  wretchedly  weak  or 
very  strong — strong  enough  to  take  the  force  and  lead 
trumps.  If  you  trump  the  doubtful  card,  partner  reads 
your  hand  as  very  weak.  If  you  discard,  you  select 
your  weakest  suit,  taking  care  not  to  blank  an  ace,  un- 
guard  a  court  card,  or  even  to  throw  a  singleton — you 
may  need  the  singleton  later  on  to  give  to  partner,  in 
the  event  of  it  being  of  the  same  suit  as  your  partner's 
great  one. 

You  will,  as  a  rule,  trump  a  doubtful  card  if  you  hold 
but  two  or  three  small  trumps,  for  in  this  event  your 
trumps  cannot  be  put  to  better  use;  if  partner  has  the 
master  card  of  the  suit  led,  he  will  not  play  it  (unless  his 
only  one),  and  it  may  make  later  on.  But  if  you  have 
three  trumps  that  seem  best  not  to  break — for  instance, 
kn,  10  and  small,  or  qu,  kn,  and  small,  or  three  good  ones 
like  k,  qu,  kn — pass  as  a  rule.  The  old  rule  of — "  with 
three  trumps,  trump  freely,"  should  be  subject  to  the 
qualifications  just  named;  and  passing  a  doubtful  card 
does  not  necessarily  imply  four  trumps.  If,  however, 
the  card  led  is  a  sure  winner,  you  should  in  such  cases 
generally  trump.  If  you  pass,  you  issue  a  peremptory 
demand  for  trumps,  and  partner  will  get  in  at  any  hazard 
and  give  them  to  you.  You  are  sometimes  justified  in 
refusing  to  trump,  even  a  winning  card,  if  you  have  four 
fair  trumps  and  a  great  suit,  with  a  card  of  reentry  in 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  157 

the  third  suit,  and  especially  if  partner  is  likely  to  be 
able  to  trump  the  next  round  if  the  suit  is  continued.  If 
you  have  but  three  trumps,  trump  the  winning  card;  if 
four  trumps  and  a  weak  hand  also  trump;  if  with  four 
trumps  and  a  good  hand  besides,  you  may  pass;  but  not 
if  the  leader  is  marked  with  other  winning  cards — sure 
to  follow,  as  in  such  cases  it  is  best  to  take  the  first 
force.  If  you  have  six  trumps,  or  five  and  a  fair  hand, 
trump  the  winning  card  and  lead  trumps.  If  a  card  is 
led  later  on  in  the  play,  and  you  have  none  of  the  suit, 
you  usually  have  some  data  from  the  previous  fall  of 
the  cards  to  direct  you.  For  instance,  if  partner  has 
shown  strength  in  trumps,  you  trump  and  lead  trumps; 
if  the  adversaries  have  shown  strength  in  trumps  and 
you  are  too  weak  to  offer  any  practical  resistance,  you 
trump  unhesitatingly. 

The  Play  of  the  Second  Hand  when  the  Lead  is  Forced. 

The  examination  of  the  play  of  the  second  hand  has 
thus  far  assumed  that  the  leads  were  normal,  original 
leads  from  strong  suits.  When  a  lead  can  be  identified 
as  a  forced  or  strengthening  one,  the  conditions  are 
materially  changed.  Good  whist  perception  will  often 
enable  the  second  hand  to  determine  that  a  lead  is 
forced  or  led  to  the  inferentially  strong  suit  of  third 
hand. 

The  student  may  be  told  that  if  the  qu  is  led,  second 
hand  holding  king,  knave,  etc.,  or  king,  10,  etc  ,  knows 
the  lead  is  not  regular.  Likewise  king  or  queen,  etc., 
knave  led;  king  or  knave,  etc.,  10  led;  ace  or  10,  etc., 
9  led.  An  8  led,  for  example,  second  hand  holding  ace 
and  9;  10  and  9;  ace,  king,  9;  ace,  qu,  9;  ace,  king,  10; 
ace,  kn,  9;  king,  10,  9;  or  any  three  cards  higher  than 
the  8,  headed  by  the  queen  or  knave,  knows  that  the 


'58 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


lead  is  forced,  and  must  play  accordingly.  Take  the 
case  of  second  hand  holding  the  ace,  k,  9,  and  one  or 
more  small,  the  8  led;  if  you  play  the  9,  thinking  the  9 
must  win — you  holding  three  cards  higher  than  the  8 — 
you  defer  to  the  third  round  the  bringing  home  of  the 
ace,  and  a  trick  may  be  lost  in  the  event  of  your  9  losing 
to  third  hand.  The  argument  applies  to  the  lead  of  a 
smaller  card,  second  hand  holding  such  cards  as  render 
it  impossible  for  the  lead  to  be  normal. 

Forced,  irregular,  and  strengthening  leads  are  much 
more  frequent  in  trumps  than  in  plain  suits,  and  a  trick 
is  often  made  or  lost  by  covering  or  passing,  as  the  case 
may  be.  In  trumps  much  depends  upon  whether  the 
lead  is  in  answer  to  a  call,  and  in  plain  suits  whether  the 
lead  is  for  the  benefit  of  third  hand's  assumed  strong 
suit,  or  a  purely  forced  one.  When  second  hand  holds 
a  fourchette — a  high  card  led — he  knows  the  lead  is 
irregular,  and  he  should  nearly  always  cover.  Below 
will  be  found  a  few  examples  in  second-hand  play  to 
forced  leads  of  the  queen  and  knave. 


TABLE  OF  SECOND-HAND  PLAY,  NO.  /. 
(FORCED  LEADS.) 


SECOND    HAND    HOLDING 

CARD  LED 

PLAYS 

k,  10,  9  —  with  our  without  others.  
k,  10  —  and  two  small  

qu 

QU 

k(a) 
small  (b) 

k    10  —  one  small 

QU 

k  (c) 

k    10  —  only 

QU 

k 

k    10  9  —  without  or  with  others 

kn 

k 

k    10  —  and  one  or  two  small.    . 

kn 

small  (d) 

1<    10  —  only                               

kn 

k 

qu   9  —  only                   

kn 

Clll 

qu  —  and  one  small  

kn 

qu  (e) 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  159 

(a)  If  second  hand   passes  and  third  hand  holds  ace,  knave  and 
others,  he  will  not  take  a  trick;  if  he  covers,  he  must  make  the  10 
good. 

(b)  Play  small  to  qu.     If  kn  follows  qu,  play  k;  if  a  small  card, 
play  small. 

(c)  If  ihe  k  wins,  and  on  the  second  round  of  the  suit  the  9  is 
led  through,  play  10;  if  a  smaller  card  than  the  9,  play  small. 

(d)  If  kn  wins,  play  10  to  second  round.     In  trumps  when  kn  is 
led  in  response  to  call,  second   hand  holding  k,  10  and  one  small 
should  cover  the  kn. 

(e)  In  trumps  play  small  unless  the  kn  is  led  in  response  to  call, 
when  play  qu. 


l6o  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THIRD    HAND. 

UNTIL  within  the  last  decade  the  analysis  of  the  play 
of  third  hand  was  very  inadequate  and  unsatisfactory. 
The  books  dismissed  the  subject  almost  with  the  single 
line — "  generally  play  your  highest  card  third  hand." 
The  new  order  for  leads  from  high-card  sequences  to- 
gether with  the  fourth-best  principle  revolutionized  the 
game,  and  rendered  obsolete,  to  a  great  extent,  the  text- 
books of  the  day. 

The    Unblocking  Game. 

The  play  of  third  hand  with  reference  to  unblocking 
in  partner's  strong  suit  will  first  be  examined.  By  orig- 
inal lead  is  meant  the  first  lead  of  the  hand,  and  it  will  be 
assumed  that  the  lead  is  from  strength,  /'.  <?.,  the  lead  is 
from  a  suit  of  four  or  more  cards.  Plain  suits  will  first 
be  considered;  and  it  is  taken  for  granted  that  the  card 
selected  as  original  lead  is  the  one  prescribed  as  con- 
ventional in  the  Table  of  High-Card  Leads.  (See 
page  70.) 

Unblocking  on  the  First  Round. 

This  feature  of  third  hand  play  is  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance, and  its  object  is  twofold.  First:  You  prepare, 
under  certain  conditions,  to  unblock  on  the  first  round 
of  the  suit.  Second:  You  enable  partner  to  count  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  l6l 

hands.  The  general  rules  laid  down  to  meet  the  play  of 
third  hand  in  this  regard  are  as  follows: — 

i. — When  the  ace,  queen,  knave,  ten  or  nine  is  led,  as 
an  original  lead,  third  hand,  not  making  an  effort  to 
take  the  trick  and  holding  exactly  four  cards  of  the  suit, 
retains  his  lowest  card — playing  his  third-best. 

2. — To  the  second  round  of  the  suit,  third  hand  having 
played  his  third-best  card  to  the  first  round,  and  again 
not  attempting  to  win  the  trick,  plays  his  second-best — 
or  middle  card. 

This  is  to  avoid  calling  by  the  play;  besides,  if  B 
throws  his  lowest  card  to  the  second  round,  he  might  as 
well  have  played  it  to  the  first,  as  the  second  play  vitiates 
any  advantage  that  might  ensue  from  the  first. 

3. — Third  hand  having  played  his  third-best  card  to 
the  first  trick,  and  later  in  play  returning  the  suit,  plays 
his  highest  card,  even  though  he  holds  three  cards  at  the 
time. 

This  is  an  exception  to  the  general  rule  of  returning 
the  lowest  of  three  cards. 

4. — Third  hand  having  played  his  third-best  card  to 
the  first  trick,  subsequently  discarding  from  the  suit, 
discards  the  middle  or  second-best  card,  unless  at  the 
time  he  desires  to  call  for  trumps. 

5. — Third  hand  wishing  to  call,  and  at  the  same  time 
unblock,  plays  first  his  second-best,  and  then  his  third- 
best  card. 

For  example — A  leads  queen;  B  holding  10,  8,  6,  4, 
plays  first  the  8  and  then  the  6,  and  has  called,  still  re- 
taining his  lowest  card  with  which  to  avoid  blocking  the 
suit. 

The  advantages  of  the  unblocking  game  are  manifold, 
and  too  much  attention  cannot  be  given  to  this  feature 
of  third-hand  play.  The  following  are  examples  illustrat- 


162 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


ing  the  application  of  the  foregoing  rules.  These  illustra- 
tions apply  with  particular  force  to  the  original  lead,  as 
it  is  then  assumed  that  the  leader  has  four  or  more  cards 
in  the  suit,  and  has  led  from  strength. 


Third  Hand  Holding  Exactly  Four  Cards. 


** 


B 


V 


I) 


*  * 


*   * 
* 
* 


i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  8;   D  plays  9. 

B  holding  exactly  four  cards  of  the  suit  plays  his 
third-best  card,  retaining  the  lowest.  A  marks  that  the 
deuce  has  not  come  out  in  this  round,  and  reads  at  once 
the  probability  that  B  is  unblocking,  and  consequently 
has  four  in  suit.  If  no  one  is  calling,  A  knows  that  B  is 
unblocking. 

2, — A  kads  kj  C  plays  4;  B  plays  kn;  D  plays  10. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  163 

B  plays  his  second-best  card.  Note  the  result.  No 
one  has  called  and  the  deuce  has  not  fallen;  this  enables 
A  to  count  the  hands  and  place  the  remaining  cards  of 
the  suit.  A  knows  that  B  has  unblocked  and  must  have 
held  originally  four  cards  of  the  suit.  Eight  cards  have 
fallen,  A  has  yet  three,  B  must  have  the  queen,  2,  and 
the  suit  is  established.  Aside  from  the  information  im- 
parted by  the  play,  which  is  very  valuable,  B  is  now  in  a 
position  not  to  block  A's  suit,  for  when  the  suit  is  played 
again,  B  will  play  the  queen,  and  have  the  2  to  give 
back,  and,  barring  trumps,  A  will  make  his  small  card. 
If  B  has  to  discard  from  this  suit  he  discards  the  queen 
or  he  undoes  all  that  he  started  in  to  do,  and  might  as 
well,  so  far  as  unblocking  is  concerned,  have  played  first 
the  2  and  then  the  8,  thus  irretrievably  blocking  the 
suit.  Note  that  if  B  does  not  prepare  to  unblock  on  the 
very  first  round  he  is  helpless,  and  blocks  the  suit  no 
matter  how  he  afterwards  plays,  if  A  goes  on  with  the 
suit. 

Suppose  in  the  example  just  given,  that  C  holds  but 
the  trey,  giving  D  the  10,  9,  4,  then:— 

i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  8;  D  plays  4. 

2. — A  leads  k;  C  trumps;   B  plays  kn;   D  plays  9. 

B  must  play  knave  just  as  if  C  had  followed  suit.  B 
cannot  lose  by  the  play,  for  D  can  have  but  two  more  of 
the  suit,  one  of  which  will  fall,  and  B's  queen  will  draw 
D's  last  card.  But  mark  that  B  will  now  not  discard 
from  this  suit — if  possible  to  avoid  it, — and  if  he  does, 
he  will  throw  the  deuce,  as  there  is  nothing  to  show  B 
that  A  has  the  10.  B  knows,  however,  that  if  A  led  from 
5  only  that  D  has  the  10.  It  follows  that  the  leader 
must  always  bear  in  mind  that  partner  may  be  getting 
rid  of  command,  and  he  must  not  draw  the  inference  that 
partner  is  short  of  the  suit;  or  that  he  is  calling,  simply 


164 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


because  he  plays  a  high  card  the  first  round;  or  that  he 
is  void  of  the  suit  because  he  plays  a  very  high  card  the 
second  round. 

The  object  of  the  unblocking  game  being  to  show  four 
cards  in  the  suit  as  well  as  to  unblock,  third  hand  fol- 
lows the  rule  even  when  he  cannot  possibly  get  out  of 
the  way.  Take  this  case: — 


*** 
*** 

*+* 
*** 


*  * 

*  * 


*** 


*** 


B 


1) 


*    * 


i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  9;   D  plays  7. 

Here  B's  cards  are  in  sequence  and  no  play  will  un- 
block, but  B  follows  the  rule  simply  as  a  matter  of  in- 
formation, for  the  fall  may  inform  A  of  his  holding. 

2. — A  leads  k  ;  C  plays  kn;    B  plays  10;  D  renounces. 

A's  suit  is  blocked,  but  A  can  read  B  with  the  queen, 
8,  and  this  he  could  not  have  done  had  B  played  the  8 
to  the  first  round.  The  8  not  falling  is  marked  with  B, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


consequently  the  queen  also,  and  this  information  may 
be  of  value  to  A.     Again: — 


*  *  * 

*    *   I 

+  *  * 


*    * 


B 


D 


i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  3;  D  plays  5. 

It  is  evident  that  B  cannot  block  no  matter  how  he 
plays;  but  B  retains  his  lowest  card  that  A  may  count 
the  hands.  A  notes  that  the  2  has  not  fallen  and  reads 
at  once  the  probability  that  B  has  four  of  the  suit. 

2. — A  leads  qu;  C  plays  9;  B  plays  4;  D  plays  k. 

A  can  now  read  the  hands;  B  has  the  deuce  and  either 
the  6  or  10,  and  the  suit  is  established.  If  B  had  played 
first  the  2,  then  3,  A  could  not  place  the  suit,  for  then  D 
might  have  the  10,  6  yet  in  hand.  In  this  event  A  would 
not  have  command,  which  might  make  a  material  differ- 
ence in  A's  subsequent  play.  The  leader  should  closely 
watch  the  fall  of  the  small  cards,  for  if  after  the  second 


i66 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


round  a  smaller  card  than  those  played  is  missing,  the 
leader  knows — if  he  has  not  the  card  himself — that  part- 
ner has  exactly  two  cards  of  the  suit  yet  in  hand — one 
higher  and  one  lower  than  the  two  played.  There  is  a 
bare  possibility  of  one  of  the  opponents  beginning  a  call 
on  the  first  round,  and  abandoning  it  on  the  second,  but 
this  is  a  contingency  hardly  worth  considering. 

Third  hand  may  be  forced  to  abandon  his  unblocking 
tactics  on  the  third  round,  for  instance: — 


+*: 


*** 


* 
*  *  *  * 


c 


*T+ 


*  * 


i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  4;   B  plays  7;   D  trumps. 

Now,  if  B  next  leads  the  suit,  he  leads  the  kn,  not  the 
3.  When  B  plays  his  third-best  card  to  the  first  round, 
he  must  return  the  highest  of  his  three  remaining  cards, 
if  he  next  leads  the  suit. 

2  (C  to  lead).— C  leads  k;  B  plays  9;  D  discards;  A 
plays  2. 

3. — C  leads  qu;  B -plays  3;   D  discards;   A  plays  5. 

B  here  abandons  his  unblocking  play,  for  he  cannot 
read  A's  cards,  and  if  he  throws  the  kn,  he  makes  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


10  good  if  with  C.  B  has  not  called  for  trumps,  and  the 
play  informs  A  that  B  has  the  kn,  for  if  B  held  the  10 
and  not  the  kn,  he  would  have  thrown  the  10,  as  in  this 
case  the  10  would  have  been  of  no  more  value  than  the 
3.  The  3  falling  from  B  informs  A  that  B  had  four 
originally,  and  that  he  had  abandoned  his  unblocking 
play.  It  will  frequently  occur  that  B  is  compelled  to 
play  his  lowest  card  the  third  round  of  the  suit,  having 
played  his  third-best  on  the  first  round,  and  his  middle 
card  to  the  second  round;  but  the  play  cannot  be  a  call, 
for  if  B  wishes  to  call  and  at  the  same  time  unblock,  he 
reverses  the  order  of  his  first  and  second  play  by  playing 
his  second-best  card  to  the  first  round.  For  instance: — 


;*$ 
:*: 


*    * 


1) 


!        | 
L*J 


v5 


i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  9;  D  plays  6. 
-  2. — A  leads  7;  C  plays  k;   B  plays  3;   D  plays  kn. 

The  play  is  very  informatory.  A  knows  that  B  has 
called  and  is  unblocking,  for  the  deuce  must  be  with  B, 
and  the  10  also;  for  if  B  held  only  9,  3,  2  originally  in 
the  suit,  he  would  have  played  the  3,  and  then  the  2. 


i68 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


To  the  ace  led  B  should  not  attempt  to  call  and  un- 
block, if  at  any  great  sacrifice  of  strength,  for  by  such 
play  he  may  give  up  control  of  the  suit,  losing  a  trick, 
even  if  C  and  D  follow  suit  to  the  ace.  Take  this 
instance: — 


*  * 

*  * 


*  * 

* 

*** 
*** 

*  * 

•?• 

*_+! 


*  * 
* 
* 


i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  kn;  D  plays  4. 

Here,  B  should  have  abandoned  the  call  or  the  un- 
blocking play.  He  should  have  read  that  unless  A  holds 
k  or  10  a  trick  may  be  lost  by  sacrificing  the  kn. 

2. — A  leads  7;  C  discards;  B  plays  qu  ;  D  plays  k — 
D's  10  is  good. 

Third  hand  holding  k,  qu,  or  qu,  kn,  and  two  small 
cards,  should  not  attempt  to  call  and  unblock  to  the  ace 
led.  The  call  is  of  very  little  consequence  in  such  cases. 
With  k,  qu,  and  two  small  it  would  be  folly  to  play  qu  to 
ace  led,  for  B  must  get  in  the  next  round — barring 
trumps, — and  to  play  the  qu  would  not  only  endanger  the 
loss  of  a  trick  in  the  suit,  but  it  would  be  publishing  in- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


169 


formation  of  a  detrimental  character.  If  B  drops  the 
qu  on  the  ace,  A  may  change  the  suit  to  disadvantage, 
or  if  he  goes  on  with  the  suit,  C  may  trump  if  void — 
giving  B  the  possible  king,  when  he  might  have  other- 
wise passed  had  B  played  small,  trusting  the  trick  to  D. 
Calling  third  hand,  often  interferes  with  the  best  play, 
as  it  also  does  with  good  second  hand  play,  and  the  best 
players  rarely  use  the  trump  signal  under  such  circum- 
stances. Good  players  lead  trumps  without  waiting  for 
this  signal,  when  the  situation  demands  a  trump  lead. 

When  to  the  ace  led,  C  drops  a  tolerably  high  card, 
indicating  the  probability  of  it  being  his  only  card,  B 
should  not  attempt,  for  two  reasons,  to  call  and  unblock, 
if  at  any  sacrifice  :  I. — He  may  lose  a  trick  in  the 
suit.  II.— If  D  suspects  a  call,  he  may  force  C  if  the 
opportunity  offers,  when,  if  B  had  not  called,  D  might 
not  have  done  so.  Suppose  this  case: — 


C 


*** 

*** 

*** 
*** 


D 


*** 

V 

*** 


*** 

*  * 

*  * 


*  * 
* 

*  * 


*  * 
* 

*  * 


170  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  kn;  B  plays  10;  D  plays  4. 

The  10  by  B  is  bad;  C  must  be  short  in  the  suit,  and 
if  D  has  the  k,  9,  a  trick  is  lost. 

2. — A  leads  6;  C  discards;  B  plays  qu;  D  plays  k. 

A  can  read  that  B  is  calling  and  that  he  has  the  3,  2, 
but  D's  9  is  now  good.  Then,  suppose  that  D  had  not 
the  9,  but  a  losing  card  instead,  he  would  force  C  at  once, 
if  he,  too,  suspected  that  B  was  calling.  The  play  of 
third  hand  in  detail  now  follows. 


Ace  Led  Originally. 

A  leading  ace,  B  holding  any  four  cards  (exactly]  of 
the  suit,  plays  his  third-best  card. 

B  retains  his  lowest  card  irrespective  of  the  play  of  C. 
The  probability  of  loss  occurring,  if  C  discards  or  trumps 
the  first  round,  is  so  remote  that  it  is  hardly  worth  con- 
sidering. B  cannot  possibly  lose,  except  when  A  opens 
from  a  suit  of  exactly  five  cards,  and  the  small  cards  with 
the  ace  must  all  be  very  small  ones.  Even  in  this  event 
B  can  abandon  his  tactics,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  with- 
out any  risk  of  A  reading  the  play  as  a  call.  It  is  only 
in  exceptional  cases  that  the  leader,  with  ace  and  four 
very  small  cards,  will  open  with  the  ace.  With  ace,  7,5, 
3,  2,  for  example,  the  fourth-best  and  not  the  ace  will 
nearly  always  be  led.  It  is  possible  for  the  cards  to  lie 
so  that  B  may  lose  a  trick  by  unblocking  on  the  first 
round,  if  C  or  D  is  void  of  the  suit;  but  the  distribution 
of  the  suit  and  the  subsequent  play  must  be  so  excep- 
tional, to  bring  it  about,  that  it  is  not  worth  while  to  bur- 
den the  rules  applying  to  the  unblocking  game  with  this 
qualification.  In  the  great  majority  of  cases  no  loss  will 
result  from  B  unblocking  when  C  renounces,  and  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


171 


advantages  resulting  from  the  play  far  outweigh  the  loss 
that  may  under  exceptional  conditions  occur.  Here  is 
an  example  illustrating  how  B  may  lose  a  trick  by  un- 
blocking, when  C  renounces  to  the  ace: — 


B 


D 


v 

I*  *  * 


*   * 

*     * 

*      * 

*     • 

* 

*** 
*** 

*     * 

* 

*      * 

*     * 

*      * 

*•    • 

i. — A  leads  ace;  C  trumps;  B  plays  3;   D  plays  7. 

2  (D  to  lead). — D  leads  8;  A  plays  4;  C  trumps;  B 
plays  qu. 

If  B  does  not  play  qu,  he  calls  for  trumps.  But  note 
that  D  may  here  deem  it  best  to  throw  the  deuce,  thus 
calling  for  trumps,  even  though  he  originally  did  not  in- 


172 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


tend  to  ask  for  them.  Or  he  may  be  sure  of  winning  the 
next  thing  led  by  C  and  then  not  leading  trumps,  in  the 
face  of  the  ruff,  A  would  take  the  cue  that  C  was  not 
calling,  but  had  abandoned  his  unblocking  game.  So 
there  are  more  ways  than  one  for  B  to  escape  loss  even 
though  it  is  liable  to  occur. 

3  (D  to  lead). — D  leads  10;  A  plays  5;  C  discards;  B 
plays  k. 

D's  knave  is  now  good.  But  mark  that  if  A's  second- 
best  card  is  the  10,  no  loss  can  result,  even  if  B  sacrifices 
the  queen.  A's  cards  with  the  ace  must  all  be  smaller 
than  the  10  in  order  for  B  to  lose,  and,  on  the  other  side, 
B's  second-best  card  must  be  the  10  or  a  court  card,  or 
no  loss  results  from  the  sacrifice.  As: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  173 

i. — A  leads  ace;  C  trumps;  B  plays  6;  D  plays  7. 

2  (D  to  lead). — D   leads  k;  A  plays  2;  C  discards;  B 
plays  10. 

Note  that  if  B  gets  in  after  trick  i,  and  does  not  lead 
trumps,  he  is  not  calling,  and  could  then  safely  play  the 
trey,  and  not  the  10,  to  the  second  round  of  this  suit;  or 
if  he  next  leads  the  suit,  he  leads  the  queen,  and  to  the 
third  round  plays  the  trey — not  calling.  So,  also,  if  A 
next  leads  the  suit,  and  C  passes,  and  B  puts  up  the 
queen,  no  loss  results. 

3  (D  to  lead). — D  leads  9;  A  plays  4;  C  discards;  B 
plays  qu. 

And  D's  knave  is  good.  Note,  again,  that  if  the  9  and 
8  change  places  no  loss  is  possible,  for  then  A  covers,  if 
D  leads  the  8,  and  B  throws  the  3  and  has  not  called, 
and  if  D  leads  the  kn,  B  wins,  and  A's  9  is  good.  The 
conditions  are  about  the  same  if  D  is  the  one  who  is 
void.  From  these  illustrations  it  will  be  seen  how  remote 
is  the  chance  for  loss  by  B  unblocking  to  the  ace  led, 
even  when  C  is  void.  When  all  follow  suit  to  the  ace 
B  cannot  lose,  no  matter  how  high  a  card  he  sacrifices 
upon  the  second  round,  nor  how  small  A's  small  cards 
may  be;  but  B  may  very  often  be  forced  to  forego  his 
unblocking  tactics  on  the  third  round,  as  will  be  pointed 
out  further  on. 


Ace  Led,  Followed  by  King. 

When  the  ace  is  led,  followed  by  king,  the  queen  is 
denied;  and  if  the  king  is  not  led,  it  is  not  with  leader. 
King  led,  after  ace,  shows  at  least  three  cards  smaller 
than  the  queen,  and  third  hand  plays  accordingly,  and 
also  subject  to  the  fall.  For  example: 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


I) 


I**** 
1  *       * 
'**** 


*** 


*** 


*     * 

* 


* 
4.     * 


i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  9;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  10. 

2. — A  leads  k;  C  plays  kn;  B  plays  qu;  D  trumps. 

B  here  throws  the  queen,  that  A's  suit  may  not  be 
blocked.  C  can  have  no  more,  and  D,  even  if  calling, 
can  have  but  one  more.  Had  C  and  D  played  small 
cards,  B  must  have  played  the  3  to  the  second  round,  as 
he  then  could  not  have  read  that  A  must  have  led  from 
six  at  least.  Had  B  held  four  cards — say  the  queen,  10, 
3,  2 — he  would  have  played  first  the  3  and  then  10,  irre- 
spective of  the  fall,  simply  to  have  informed  A  that  he 
held  the  queen,  2  yet  in  hand. 

Ace  Led,  Followed  by  Queen. 

When  the  qu  follows  the  ace,  the  king  and  10  are 
denied,  and  the  knave  and  one  small  card  only  remain. 
B,  with  king  and  two  small  cards — originally — plays 
small  to  the  queen,  as — if  he  throws  the  k — the  10,  which 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


175 


is  surely  against,  will  make  if  doubly  guarded.  B,  hold- 
ing any  four  cards,  retains  his  lowest  card,  and  while  he 
knows,  as  soon  as  A  follows  with  the  qu,  that  he  cannot 
block  the  suit,  yet  he  may  abandon  the  unblocking  play 
simply  to  enable  A  to  read  his  hand.  Take  this  case: — 


*** 
*** 

*** 
*** 

*      * 

*** 
*** 

*    * 

*** 

*    * 
*    * 

*    * 
*    * 

*    * 

B 


D 


*      * 


i*  *  * 


** 


i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  7;  D  plays  2. 

2. — A  leads  qu;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  9;   D  plays  3. 

3  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  kn;  C  discards  or  trumps;  B 
plays  6;  D  plays  4. 

Here  B  knows  that  he  cannot  lose  by  throwing  the  10, 
for  he  knows  that  D's  only  card  of  the  suit  must  fall, 
but  A  cannot  so  read;  if  B  plays  the  10,  then,  so  far  as 
A  can  read,  D  may  have  the  6.  B  playing  the  6,  marked 
him  with  the  10,  and  note  also,  that  had  B  played  the  6, 
then  7,  then  9,  A  could  not  locate  the  10.  It  must  not 
be  forgotten  that  when  B  plays  a  higher  card  on  the 


i76 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


second  round  than  he  did  on  the  first,  and  afterwards 
throws  a  smaller  card  than  the  one  first  played,  he  is  not 
calling. 

Ace  Led,  followed  by  Knave. 

When  the  knave  follows  the  ace,  the  queen  and  at  least 
two  small  cards — including  the  10  as  a  small  card — are 
proclaimed. 

B,  holding  king  and  two  small  cards — originally — plays 
his  king  to  the  knave  if  C  follows  suit,  but  if  C  discards 
or  trumps,  B  plays  small  to  the  knave  as  the  10  guarded 
may  be  with  D. 

B,  holding  king  and  three  small  cards,  plays  his  third- 
best  card  to  the  ace,  his  middle  card  to  the  knave.  It 
is  incumbent  upon  A  to  so  play,  at  trick  three,  that  he 
does  not  force  B  to  abandon  his  unblocking  play.  Be- 
sides, it  may  happen  that  B's  smallest  card  is  of  higher 
rank  than  A's  largest  small  card,  in  which  case  A  may  be 
at  fault.  Take  this  case: — 


C 


4 

*** 


*++ 
*    * 


*    * 


B 


D 


****! 


**** 

* 
**** 


r* 

!* 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  177 

i. — A  leads  ace;  C  trumps;  B  plays  7;  D  plays  4. 

Now,  suppose  that  trumps  come  out,  and  A  goes  on 
with  the  suit. 

2. — A  leads  kn;  C  discards;  B  plays  8;  D  plays  6. 

3. — A  leads  qu;  C  discards;  B  plays  5;  D  plays  9. 

Here,  A  by  bad  play  forces  B  to  block  his  suit  no  mat- 
ter how  he  plays.  After  the  second  round,  B  was  marked 
with  the  k,  5,  and  A  should  have  led  the  small  card 
(trick  3),  and  given  B  the  opportunity  to  clear. 

Take  the  position  diagramed,  giving  C  the  4,  and 
then— 

i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  7;  D  plays  6. 

2.  A  leads  kn;  C  trumps;  B  plays  8;  D  plays  9. 

3  (D  to  lead). — D  leads  10;  A  plays  2;  C  trumps;  B 
plays  k. 

B  would  play  badly  if  he  should  throw  the  5.  A  is 
marked  with  the  queen  and  trey,  and  the  play  cannot 
possibly  deceive  A,  for  when  to  the  second  round  the  5 
did  not  fall,  A  gives  it  to  B.  Suppose  again  that  at  trick 
3,  D  opens  a  suit  of  which  B  is  void,  and  A  wins  the  trick, 
B,  if  he  discards  from  this  suit,  throws  the  king.  B 
should  ever  be  on  the  alert  to  get  rid  of  command  of  A's 
suit  by  discard,  when  practicable.  When  the  ace  and 
knave  win,  all  following  suit,  it  is  certain — barring  un- 
usual finesse,  or  rather  holding  up — that  B  has  king  and 
one  small,  and  the  subsequent  discard  of  the  king  by  B 
simply  confirms  this  inference. 

Ace  Led,  Followed  by  Ten. 

When  the  10  follows  the  ace,  the  leader  remains  with 
exactly  queen,  knave. 

With  king  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  small  to  ace, 
and  king  to  10,  irrespective  of  C's  play. 


178  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

With  king  and  three  small  cards,  B  plays  third-best, 
then  his  middle  card,  and  is  marked  with  king  and  one 
other. 

With  more  than  four  cards,  B  plays  low.  A  must  ever 
remember  that  B  is  not  necessarily  void  of  the  suit,  or 
signaling  because  he  throws  a  high  card  the  second  or 
third  rounds  of  a  suit.  When  A,  for  example,  leads  ace 
then  knave,  he  says  to  B,  "I  am  long  in  the  suit — five  at 
least — do  not  block  me,"  and  A  should  not  be  deceived 
if  B  follows  instructions. 

Ace  Led,  Followed  by  Nine. 

When  the  9  follows  the  ace,  the  leader  has  the  10,  and 
either  the  queen  or  knave  and  at  least  five  in  suit  origi- 
nally. 

With  king  and  any  number  of  others,  B  must  put  the 
king  on  the  9,  as  queen  or  knave  is  against. 

With  queen  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  small  to  ace, 
and  the  queen  to  the  9,  that  he  may  not  block  the  suit; 
the  9  will  force  the  king,  and  A  is  left  with  knave,  10 
and  a  small  card.  When  B  so  plays,  he  may  or  may  not 
have  another  card;  the  only  positive  inference  A  can 
draw  is  that  B  cannot  have  two  more  cards  of  the  suit. 
When  the  leader  opens  with  ace  and  follows  with  a  card 
like  the  9,  8,  or  7 — cards  which  readily  enable  B  to  read 
A's  remaining  cards,  and  B  throws  a  high  card  to  the 
second  round,  even  though  C  has  trumped  or  played 
a  higher  card,  A  must  not  jump  at  the  conclusion  that 
B  has  no  more;  for  he  may  be  acting  upon  the  informa- 
tion A  has  published  by  his  second  lead,  and  is  getting 
rid  of  command.  A  selects  for  his  second  lead  his  orig- 
inal fourth-best,  for  the  very  purpose  that  B  may  count 
his  hand  and  if  practicable  get  out  of  the  way.  Few 
players  sitting  second  and  third  hand,  take  full  advan- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


179 


tage  of  the  information  afforded  by  the  play  of  the  orig- 
inal fourth-best  card,  the  second  round  of  the  suit  by  the 
leader.  And  it  follows  that  if  B  does  not  and  C  does, 
that  A  would  be  better  off  if  he  withheld  the  informa- 
tion. 

Ace  Led,  Folloived  by  a  Lower  Card  than  the  Nine. 

When  a  low  card  follows  the  ace,  the  leader  has  two 
cards  higher  than  the  one  selected  for  the  second  lead, 
and  one  or  more  smaller. 

B,  with  more  or  less  than  four  cards,  plays  his  smallest 
card  to  the  ace,  if  he  does  not  wish  to  call;  and  his  play 
to  the  second  lead  of  the  fourth-best  is  modified  by  the 
fall.  With  any  three  cards  B  should  always  be  on  the 
alert  to  get  rid  of  the  command  on  the  second  round,  if 
the  fall  demonstrates  that  it  is  practicable.  For  in- 
stance:— 


I*  * 


*** 
*** 

*  * 


B 


I) 


*** 

A     A 
A     A 

A      A 
A      A 
A     A 

A      * 

*      * 

A      A 
A     A 

i8o 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  kn. 

2. — A  leads  6;  C  trumps — 

B  can  do  some  counting  here,  and  should  throw  the 
queen.  A  must  have  two  cards  higher  than  the  6;  they 
cannot  be  the  k,  7  for  in  this  case  A  would  have  gone  on 
with  the  king,  consequently  they  must  be  the  10,  7.  D, 
even  if  calling,  which  is  unlikely,  can  have  but  the  king 
and  one  small,  and  if  D  is  not  calling  his  king  must  fall, 
and  A's  suit  is  cleared. 

Third  hand  having  played  his  third-best  card  the  first 
round,  holding  exactly  four  cards  of  the  leader's  suit, 
must  be  precise  in  the  subsequent  handling  of  his  three 
remaining  cards.  If  B  returns  the  suit,  A  having  aban- 
doned it,  or  the  trick  losing  to  opponents,  he  must  return 
the  highest  of  the  three.  For  instance: — 


**+ 
*** 


B 


*    * 


D 


*  * 
*  * 

* 
* 

i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  8;  D  plays  10. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  l8l 

Now  suppose  that  A  leads  trumps,  and  they  come  out, 
leaving  B  in  the  lead. 

2. — B  leads  qu;  D  plays  k;  A  plays  2;  C  plays  7. 

The  unblocking  game  has  been  objected  to  on  the 
ground  that  B  must  return  the  highest  of  three  cards, 
having  retained  his  lowest  card  the  first  round,  the  ob- 
jectors claiming  that  this  may  often  cause  A  to  misread 
B's  hand.  This  objection  does  not  appear  to  be  sound, 
for  it  will  be  found  that  in  the  majority  of  cases  it  does 
just  the  opposite,  and  that  by  no  other  play  than  the  one 
proposed,  can  A  read  the  hands  so  absolutely  after  the 
second  round.  It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  B  has  re- 
tained his  lowest  card,  and  that  this  makes  all  the  differ- 
ence. The  above  example  is  a  case  in  point.  Note  how 
absolutely  A  can  place  the  two  remaining  cards  of  the  suit 
with  B.  The  6  not  showing  up  in  these  two  rounds  is 
marked  with  B,  and  he  consequently  must  have  the  9  also. 

There  is  a  point  here,  which  has  been  referred  to  be- 
fore, and  is  important.  It  is  in  this:  A  must  be  careful 
to  play  at  trick  three — /.  e.,  on  the  third  round  of  the 
suit  that  B  has  unblocked  in,  so  that  he  may  render  it 
possible  for  B  to  clear.  Suppose  that  A  next  leads  the 
suit  under  illustration  (the  one  last  in  diagram)  he  should 
lead  the  4,  not  the  kn.  If  he  leads  the  knave  P  must 
block,  no  matter  how  he  plays.  B's  cards  may  often  be 
of  such  rank — as  in  this  instance, — that  he  can  only  get 
out  of  the  way,  even  though  he  has  retained  his  lowest 
card,  by  the  cooperation  of  A. 

3. — A  leads  4;  C  discards;  B  plays  9;  D  discards. 

B  returns  the  6,  and  A  brings  in  the  5.  On  the  other 
hand,  suppose  B  plays  as  under: — 

i. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  6;  D  plays  10. 

2  (B  to  lead).— B  leads  8;  D  plays  k;  A  plays  2;  C 
plays  7. 


l82  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

There  is  not  a  word  of  conversation  between  the  players 
here.  So  far  as  A  can  read,  C  may  have  the  qu,  9,  and, 
in  this  event,  if  A  is  forced  to  lead  the  suit,  he  has  no 
other  trick.  The  return  of  the  highest  of  three,  when  B 
has  retained  his  lowest  of  four  the  first  round,  will  oftener 
assist  than  mislead  A;  and  the  balance  of  advantage  is 
surely  with  the  unblocking  game,  despite  the  fact  that  it 
is  possible  for  the  cards  to  so  lie,  that  loss  may  result  from 
the  play  here  advised. 

If  B  finds  it  expedient  to  discard  from  the  suit  he  has 
unblocked  in,  he  discards  his  middle  card,  if  he  has  three 
at  the  time.  If  he  has  already  discarded  or  followed 
suit,  throwing  the  middle  card,  he  will  then  discard  the 
higher  of  his  two  remaining  cards,  if  he  can  read  at  the 
time  that  A  does  not  need  his  assistance  in  the  suit.  B 
should  always  be  alert  to  make  use  of  the  discard  as  a 
means  of  getting  out  of  A's  way,  no  matter  how  he  may 
have  played  in  the  previous  rounds  of  the  suit.  Getting 
rid  of  the  command  by  discard  is  not  infrequently  the 
only  way  open  to  B  to  clear  A's  suit,  and  he  rarely  has  a 
second  opportunity,  if  he  misses  the  first. 

B,  wishing  to  call,  holding  exactly  four  cards  of  the 
suit,  ace  led,  must  play  his  second-best  card  to  the  ace. 
This  B  can  nearly  always  afford  to  do  without  risk  of 
loss.  With  two  court  cards  and  two  small  cards,  as,  king, 
queen,  3,  2;  or  queen,  knave,  3,  2,  B  should  abandon  the 
call,  as  sacrificing  the  court  card  is  a  risk  too  great  to 
run.  The  abandonment  of  the  call  under  these  circum- 
stances is  of  no  consequence,  for  B  will  get  in  on  the 
second  or  third  round.  Holding  king,  queen  and  two 
small,  for  instance,  it  would  be  folly  to  throw  queen.  Be- 
sides it  would  most  likely  cause  A  to  change  the  suit, 
when,  if  B  plays  his  third-best  card,  A  goes  on  and  B 
gets  in  and  no  sacrifice  is  made.  B,  with  one  court  card 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  183 

and  any  three  cards  below  the  10,  may  throw  the  second- 
best  card  to  the  ace  without  much  risk  of  loss.  If  B's 
three  cards  are  in  sequence,  or  when  his  second  and 
third-best  cards  are  of  indifferent  value  he,  of  course, 
runs  no  risk  in  calling.  In  rare  cases  B  may  deem  it  in- 
expedient to  ask  for  trumps  on  the  first  round  (thus 
playing  his  third-best  card);  but  the  subsequent  play  may 
render  it  obvious  that  a  trump  lead  would  be  very  ad- 
vantageous. B  may  not  be  able  to  make  a  late  call  under 
these  circumstances,  but  if  it  is  evident  to  B  that  a  trump 
lead  would  be  advantageous,  it  will  likewise  be  evident 
to  A,  who  will  lead  them  without  the  signal  from  B. 


King  Led  Originally. 

The  king  is  led  as  an  original  lead  from  ace,  king  and 
any  two;  king,  queen. and  any  two. 

With  any  three  or  more  cards,  B  plays  his  lowest  card 
to  the  king,  unless  he  desires  to  call  or  gain  the  lead. 

With  ace,  knave  only,  B  plays  ace  on  king  and  returns 
the  knave. 

With  ace,  knave  and  one  small  card,  B  plays  small  to 
king  and  to  the  second  round  the  ace,  unless  C  trumps. 
If  C  trumps  B  plays  knave  and  is  marked  with  the  ace 
only. 

With  ace,  knave  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  his 
lowest  card  to  the  king,  and  if  C  follows  suit  to  the  next 
round,  B  plays  knave,  and  is  marked  with  ace  and  at  least 
one  other  card. 

B,  with  any  four  cards,  plays  his  lowest  card  to  the 
king.  The  lead  is  declared  to  be  from  four  cards  only, 
and  B  holding  four  cards  cannot  block  the  suit,  and  he 
cannot  afford  to  make  any  sacrifice  in  an  endeavor  to 


184 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


show  four.     The  king  may  be  led  from  king,  queen  and 
two  very  small  cards.     Suppose  the  following: — 


t*: 


* 


*&* 

t!lJ 


*** 

:*: 


D 


*_* 


i. — A  leads  k  ;  C  plays  ace  ;  B  plays  8  ;  D  plays  kn. 
Here  B's  four  cards  are  almost  in  sequence,  and  yet 
the  play  of  the  8  leaves  C  with  the  ultimate  control. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  2  ;  B  plays  9;  D 
discards  or  trumps. 

3  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  3  ;    C  plays  6  ;  B  plays  10 — 
and  C's  7  is  good,  which  would  not  have  been  the  case 
had  B  played  first  the  5  then  8. 

It  is,  however,  incumbent  upon  A  to  unblock  at  the 
proper  moment,  if  the  fall  demonstrates  that  B  is  longer 
in  the  suit  than  he  is.  Take  this  case  : — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


"85 


V 

**+ 


*4»* 
**%• 

,*    * 


4,  4« 

4.  4. 

* 

4.  4- 

*_* 

*_* 

* 

B 


. 
4-* 


D 


i. — A  leads  k  ;  C  plays  ace  ;  B  plays  2  ;  D  plays  5. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  kn  ;  B  plays  4  ; 
D  plays  9. 

Now  suppose  that  B  leads  the  suit  again  and  D  trumps, 
A  should  throw  the  10,  as  B  is  marked  with  the  8,  7.  If 
he  retains  the  10,  he  blocks  B. 

With  none  of  the  suit,  B,  of  course,  passes  the  king,  if 
C  does  not  cover. 


Queen  Led  Originally. 

The  queen  is  led,  originally,  from  a  tierce  major,  five 
or  more  in  suit  ;  king,  queen,  five  or  more  in  suit,  and 
from  tierce  to  queen,  four  or  more  in  suit. 

With  ace,  king  and  more  than  four  in  suit,  B  plays  his 


l86  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

lowest  card  to  the  queen,  unless  he  is  desirous  of  obtain- 
ing the  lead. 

B,  holding  the  ace,  king,  knows  that  A  has  led  from  a 
tierce  to  queen,  and  if  A  next  leads  the  knave  he  shows 
four  in  suit  only,  and  B,  holding  ace,  king  and  more 
than  two  small  ones  originally,  plays  small  to  knave  as 
he  is  longer  in  the  suit  than  A.  If  A  follows  queen  with 
10,  five  cards  at  least  are  proclaimed. 

With  ace,  king  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  his  third- 
best  card  to  the  queen,  and  to  the  second  round  the 
king,  even  though  C  discards  or  trumps.  B  is  then 
marked  with  ace  and  one  small. 

With  ace,  king  and  one  small  card,  B  plays  king  to 
queen  led,  and  returns  the  ace.  But  if  C  is  void  and 
discards  or  trumps,  B  plays  small  to  queen. 

With  ace,  knave,  10  and  more  than  one  small  card,  B 
plays  his  smallest  card  to  the  queen.  B  holding  ace, 
knave,  10  ;  or  ace,  10  and  others,  knows  that  A  has  led 
from  king,  queen,  five  at  least  in  suit. 

With  ace,  knave,  10  and  one  small  card,  B  plays  10  to 
the  queen,  and  the  knave  to  the  second  round,  irrespec- 
tive of  the  play  of  C  or  D,  and  shows  ace  and  one  small. 

With  ace,  knave,  10  only,  B  plays  10,  then  ace,  and  is 
marked  with  the  knave  single. 

With  ace,  knave  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  his 
third-best  card  to  the  queen,  and  the  knave  to  the  next 
round — whether  C  or  D  follows  suit,  discards  or  trumps 
— and  is  marked  with  the  ace  and  one  small. 

With  ace,  knave  and  one  small  card,  B  plays  small- 
then  ace. 

With  ace,  knave  only,  B  plays  ace  and  returns  the 
knave  and  can  have  no  more. 

With  ace  and  more  than  three  small  cards,  B  plays  his 
smallest  card,  if  C  follows,  not  covering,  or  trumps.  If 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


I87 


C,  however,  discards,  B  plays  ace,  unless  one  of  his  small 
cards  is  the  knave  or  10,  in  which  case  he  is  assured  that 
the  lead  is  from  king,  queen  and  at  least  three  small-1 - 
and  he  passes  the  queen. 

With  ace  and  three  small  cards,  B  plays  his  third-best 
card  to  the  queen.  When  the  queen  is  led  from  queen, 
knave,  10  and  one  or  two  small  cards,  B  may  lose  a  trick 
by  retaining  his  lowest  card  the  first  round,  holding  ace 
and  three  small  cards  ;  but  in  order  to  bring  this  about, 
C  must  have  king  and  three  others,  and  B's  second-best 
card  must  outrank  C's  second-best  card.  As  : — 


*    * 


D 


i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  3  ;  B  plays  5  ;   D  plays  9. 

2. — A  leads  kn  ;  C  plays  6  ;  B  plays  8  ;   D  discards. 

3. — A  leads  2  ;  C  plays  7 — and  B  must  play  ace  and 
C's  king  is  free. 

This  possible  loss  of  a  trick  can  only  occur  when  B's 
second-best  card  is  the  9  or  8  ;  D  must  be  void  or  with 


1 88 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


one  only;  and  C  must  have  king  and  three  others.  The 
distribution  of  the  suit  is  exceptional,  and  this  is  the 
only  combination  wherein  it  is  possible  for  B  to  lose  a 
trick  by  playing  his  third-best  card  the  first  round — 
queen  led.  There  stands  against  this  the  great  advan- 
tage A  often  gains  by  being  able  to  read  the  suit  the  Jirsf 
round,  and  nearly  always  on  the  second,  if  B  unblocks  ; 
when,  if  B  plays  his  lowest  card  the  first  round,  A  may 
be  left  very  much  in  doubt  even  after  the  second  round. 
Take  this  example  : — 


4.    * 
*.  + 

* 

•!• 

*  > 

*  *  * 
+ 
+  *  *i 

B 
C                                D 

A 

*  4-  *, 
*    * 

•fr  «fr  «fr| 

*  *  * 
*  *  * 

.:.:.:•: 

4- 
*  *** 

9 

*** 
*v* 

*** 
*** 


T. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  7  ;  B  plays  3  ;  D  plays  6. 

2. — A  leads  kn  ;  C  plays  8  ;  B  plays  4  ;  D  discards  or 
trumps. 

Now,  so  far  as  A  can  read,  B  may  have  the  remainder 
of  the  suit,  or  C  can  have  the  king  single,  or  the  king,  9. 
If,  however — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


189 


i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  4  ;  D  plays  6. 

And  A  reads  that  if  no  one  is  calling,  B  has  ace,  3 
and  one  card  higher  than  the  four,  and  on  the  second 
round  A  can  place  the  suit  absolutely.  Or  again  : — 


*  * 

*&* 
*** 

*  * 

*  4. 
*  * 

i. — A  leads  qu  ;   C  plays  5  ;  B  plays  4  ;  D  plays  7. 
2. — A  leads  2  ;  C  plays  6  ;  B  plays  ace  ;   D  trumps. 

(When  the  qu  is  led  from  k,  qu,  five  or  more  in  suit,  winning  the 
trick,  the  second  lead  is  the  fourth-best,  counting  from  and  in- 
cluding the  qu.  By  ignoring  the  k,  the  play  is  rendered  more 
informatory  as  the  leader  shows  two  cards  of  intermediate  rank 
between  the  first  and  second  cards  led.) 

A  cannot  place  a  card  in  the  suit  ;  B  may  have  no 
more,  and  C  can  have  knave,  10,  9,  so  far  as  A  can  read 
from  the  fall  ;  for  if  C  held  the  tierce  to  knave,  he 
would  likewise  have  played  the  6  to  A's  deuce,  knowing 
it  must  force  the  ace.  On  the  other  hand  suppose — 

i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  5  ;  B  plays  9  ;   I)  plays  7. 

A  knows — barring  a  call  that  B  has  ace,  kn,  4  or  ace, 


190  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

10,  4.  A  can  read  that  the  great  probability  is  that  the 
suit  is  established  and — barring  trumps, —  that  there  are 
five  tricks  in  the  suit.  By  the  first  play  A,  even  after 
the  second  round,  cannot  tell  from  the  fall  that  he  might 
not  lose  two  tricks  in  the  suit.  Furthermore,  if  B  can 
be  depended  on  to  play  his  third-best  card,  holding 
exactly  four  in  suit,  A  can  nearly  always  read  that  B 
must  have  played  his  lowest  card  (when  B  does  so  play), 
and  consequently  cannot  have  exactly  four,  and  in  the 
subsequent  play  this  may  prove  of  great  value  to  A. 
The  balance  of  advantage  lies  with  the  unblocking  game, 
and  the  writer  believes  that  third  hand  should  play  his 
third-best  card  to  queen  led,  as  an  original  lead,  holding 
any  four  cards  (exactly)  of  the  suit. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  not  one  long  suit  per- 
haps in  ten,  is  brought  in,  and  B's  unblocking  tactics  go 
for  naught  ;  for  the  purely  unblocking  feature  of  B's 
play  counts  only  when  A  succeeds  in  bringing  in  the 
suit.  The  gain  in  tricks  is  usually  made  by  the  proper 
play  of  all  the  suits,  and  the  information  afforded  to  A 
by  B  showing  four,  or  that  he  cannot  have  exactly  four, 
is  rarely  if  ever  lost ;  for  such  information  can  almost 
always  be  turned  to  good  account,  whether  a  long  suit  is 
made  or  not.  The  purely  unblocking  part  of  the  play 
is  not  of  so  much  practical  value  as  showing  the  number 
in  suit.  Good  players,  who  carefully  note  the  absence  of 
a  small  card  from  the  fall  the  first  and  second  rounds  of 
a  suit,  often  reap  great  advantage  from  the  information. 
This  feature  of  the  unblocking  game  is  sadly  neglected 
by  even  very  good  players,  and  the  writer  believes  that 
it  is  of  more  practical  value  than  any  other  convention 
of  the  game,  and  should  receive  very  much  more  atten- 
tion than  it  usually  does.  The  negative  information 
here,  is  almost  as  valuable  as  the  positive  ;  for  if  A  leads 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


the  ace  and  B  plays  the  deuce,  or  any  low  card  that  A 
knows  is  B's  lowest  card,  he  reads  at  once  that  B  has 
less  or  more  than  four,  and  this  negative  information 
may,  in  the  subsequent  play,  be  of  great  benefit  to  A. 
B,  in  retaining  his  lowest  card,  may  not  only  enable  A 
to  count  the  hands  as  to  this  one  suit,  but  may  greatly 
aid  A  in  reading  B's  hand  in  the  other  suits.  Suppose 
B  has  unblocked  in  diamonds,  and  after  the  second 
round  is  marked  with  two  cards  of  the  suit  ;  A  now 
leads  trumps  (clubs),  B  shows  four,  and  subsequently 
five  hearts  ;  A  knows  that  B's  hand  contains  no  spade, 
and  he  plays  subject  to  this  information. 

With  ace  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  small  to  queen, 
unless  C  covers.  B's  second  play  (in  the  suit)  depends 
upon  the  follow  by  A  and  whether  C  follows  suit,  dis- 
cards or  trumps.  Suppose  the  following  : — 

K 


B 


I) 


*  *  *• 

I*  *  * 


*  *  * 

! 


*A* 
*** 


*** 

A     A 

A     A 


i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  2  ;  B  plays  4  ;  D  plays  k. 
Now,  if  B  next  leads  the  suit,  he  leads  ace  ;  if  C  leads 


I92 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


the  suit  B  also  plays  ace.  If  D  leads  the  suit  through 
A,  A  puts  on  the  kn  and  B  having  the  ace,  8  (the  9 
falling  from  C),  wins  with  ace — 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  kn  ;  C  plays  9  ;  B  plays  ace  ; 
D  plays  3. 

A  shows  that  he  had  but  four  cards  of  the  suit  origin- 
ally and  C  playing  the  9  is  marked  with  no  more,  conse- 
quently D  must  have  had  king  and  three  others.  But  B 
having  the  8  wins  with  the  ace  and — 

3. — B  leads  8  ;  D  plays  5  ;  A  plays  ro — 

A,  having  the  7,  wins  the  8  and  draws  the  6  from  D. 
Had  A  had  the  6  he  would  have  passed  the  8.  The  fall 
here  rendered  the  play  of  A  and  B  obvious  Likewise, 
if  B  holds  the  9  he  wins  the  kn,  even  if  C  discards,  and 
returns  the  9,  and  if  A  has  the  10,  8,  he  takes  ;  if  not, 
he  passes.  But  if  B's  two  cards  with  the  ace  are  very 
small  cards  he  may  have  to  hold  up  the  ace  the  second 
round — the  queen  losing  to  D.  As  : — 


*  * 

*  * 

* 

*  * 

*..*. 

*_* 

*  * 


B 


* . 

*• 
*,* 


D 


4-^* 
4.% 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  193 

i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  2  ;  B  plays  4  ;  D  plays  k. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  kn  ;  C  plays  3  ;  B  plays  6  ; 
D  plays  5. 

A,  following  the  queen  with  knave,  shows  10  and  one 
small  only,  and  B  must  play  the  6,  for  unless  C  and  D 
have  exactly  three  cards  each  a  trick  will  be  lost  as  the 

9  must  be  with  the  opponents.      If  A  follows  queen  with 

10  or  9 — showing  five  in  suit  or  quart  sequence,  B  plays 
ace  as  he  cannot  possibly  lose  by  so  doing.      If  C  does 
not  follow  suit  to  the   10   (to  the  9  it  is  immaterial)  dis- 
carding or  trumping,  B  should  play  small;    for  if  he  puts 
up  ace,  and   D   has   the  9,  8  and  one  small  card,  he  will 
hold  over  A  in  the  end.    If  this  situation  should  occur  at 
a   critical    point — say    after  trumps    are   out,  and    it   is 
evident  that  A  B  must  make  four  tricks  in  the  suit  (with- 
out losing  the  lead)  to  save  or  make  the  game,  B  would 
of  course  win  the  10  with  the  ace  and  trust  to  finding  A 
with  a  tenace  over   D — say  knave,  8  against  D's  9  and 
small. 

When  the  queen  is  led,  winning  the  trick,  and  a  small 
card  is  next  led,  the  lead  is  then  proclaimed  to  be  from 
the  king  and  at  least  three  small  cards,  and  B  holding 
ace  and  two  small  cards  originally,  plays  ace  to  the 
second  round,  if  C  follows  suit  or  discards  ;  but  if  C 
trumps,  B  plays  small,  unless  he  can  read  from  the  play 
that  A  held  six  originally,  when  he  should  play  ace,  as 
D  can  have  but  two  cards  remaining. 

With  ace  and  one  small  card,  B  passes  the  queen  led, 
if  C  follows  suit  and  does  not  cover.  If  C  is  void  and 
trumps,  B  plays  small ;  if  C  discards,  B  plays  ace. 

With  king  and  three  small  cards,  B  plays  his  third- 
best  card  to  the  queen,  and  to  the  second  round  his 
middle  card.  B  knows  —  holding  the  king  —  that  the 
lead  is  from  tierce  to  queen  ;  ancl  when  C  or  D  is  short 


194 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


of  the  suit,  B  may  be  forced  to  abandon  his  unblocking 
tactics  on  the  third  round,  if  A  plays  improperly  at  trick 
three  —  but  not  otherwise,  unless,  indeed  it  develops 
that  A  has  made  a  forced  lead  from  queen,  knave,  10 
only.  Take  this  case  : — 


. 

*** 
*    * 


*  * 


* 
* 

* 


D 


*** 

*** 

*** 
*** 


i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  ace  ;  B  plays  4  ;  D  plays  2. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  kn  ;  C  trumps  ;  B  plays  9  ,  D 
plays  5. 

Now,  if  A  goes  on  with  the  suit,  subsequently,  leading 
the  10,  B  must  play  the  trey,  but  if  A  properly  leads  the 
7,  B  plays  king.  If  A  can  be  depended  upon  to  play 
correctly,  B  reads,  if  A  leads  10,  that  he  originally  led 
from  three  cards  only. 

With  king  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  his  lowest  card 
to  the  queen,  and  if  A  next  leads  the  suit — leading  the 
10,  B  plays  k  on  10,  if  C  follows  suit  ;  if  C  renounces,  B 
plays  small,  unless  his  small  card  is  the  9,  when  he  still 
plays  k.  If  C  leacjs  the  suit,  B,  of^course,  plays  king. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


'95 


With  any  four  small  cards  (**.  e.  ,all  lower  than  the  qu), 
B  plays  his  third- best  card,  and  in  the  next  trick  his 
middle  card. 

With  none  of  the  suit,  B  passes  qu  led,  if  C  does  not 
cover. 

When  queen  is  led,  and  C  covers  with  king,  B  with 
ace  and  others  must  prepare  to  unblock  on  the  subse- 
quent rounds  if  his  small  cards  are  blocking  cards — say 
9,  8  and  small,  or  nine  and  two  small.  When  the  queen 
is  covered  by  C  with  king,  the  lead  is  at  once  proclaimed 
to  be  from  tierce  to  queen,  and  if  A  next  leads  the  suit 
he  will  show  his  numerical  strength  by  the  card  he 
selects  for  the  second  lead.  For  example  : — 

Queen  then  knave,  shows  four  in  suit,  and  denies  the  9. 

Queen  then  10,  shows  five  in  suit,  possibly  the  9  in- 
cluded. 

Queen  then  9,  shows  the  knave,  10  only  remaining. 


8P' 


3 

*** 


B 


D 


!*    *    * 

!*  *  * 


i* 

'+ 


196  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

i. — A  leads  qu  ;  C  plays  k  ;  B  plays  ace  ;   D  plays  4. 

If  B  returns  the  suit,  he  leads  the  9,  not  the  3,  for  A 
being  marked  with  the  knave,  10,  B's  9,  8  are  virtually 
second  and  third  best  cards,  and  by  so  playing  he  is 
only  following  the  accepted  play  (see  Chapter  XXL,  The 
Return).  If  B  returns  the  trey  he  blocks  A's  suit,  if  A 
next  leads  (third  round)  the  knave. 

2. — A  leads  10  ;  C  discards  or  trumps ;  B  plays  8  ;  D 
plays  6. 

B  prepares  to  unblock  on  the  second  round.  If  B 
plays  the  3,  he  may  block  the  suit. 

3. — A  leads  kn  ;  C  discards  or  trumps  ;  B  plays  9  ;  D 
plays  7. 

A's  suit  is  now  cleared.  If  A  had  followed  the  qu 
with  knave,  B  would  then  have  played  the  3. 

B,  wishing  to  lead  trumps,  holding  ace,  king  and  any 
two  small  cards,  is  strong  enough  to  take  the  queen  with 
king,  even  if  C  renounces. 

With  ace,  knave  and  two  small,  B  cannot  afford  to 
win  the  queen  or  play  knave — if  C  is  void, — and  must 
either  abandon  the  call  or  the  unblocking  play  ;  but  if 
C  follows  suit  to  the  queen,  B  can  safely  take  with  ace, 
as  D  can  have,  at  most,  but  three  cards  in  the  suit. 

With  ace,  10  and  two  small  cards,  B  wishing  to  call 
and  unblock  may  safely  play  the  10  if  C  follows  suit  to 
the  queen,  but  not  if  C  renounces. 

With  king  and  three  small  cards,  to  queen  led,  B  can 
safely  play  his  second-best  card,  if  he  wishes  to  call  for 
trumps. 

B,  with  any  four  cards  smaller  than  the  queen,  can 
always  afford  to  play  his  second-best  card  to  the  queen 
led,  if  he  desires  to  call  for  trumps. 

B's  play  is  based  upon  the  assumption  that  A  has  led 
from  a  suit  of  at  least  four  cards,  Forced  leads  from 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  197 

queen  and  two  small,  or  from  queen,  knave,  10  only,  be- 
ing exceptional  are  not  considered. 

Knave  Led  Originally. 

When  knave  is  led  as  an  original  lead,  the  leader  has 
either  ace,  king,  queen,  knave  and  one  or  more  small, 
or  king,  queen,  knave,  and  two  or  more  small. 

With  ace  and  more  than  three  small  cards,  B  plays  his 
lowest  card  to  the  kn,  unless  he  wishes  to  obtain  the 
lead,  or  call  for  trumps. 

With  ace  and  three  small  cards,  B  plays  his  third-best 
card,  and  to  the  second  round  the  second-best,  and  is 
marked  with  ace  and  one  small. 

So  long  as  B  retains  the  ace  he  is  marked  with  at  least 
one  small  card,  and  when  B  plays  the  ace  he  has  but  one 
small  card  remaining,  except,  of  course,  when  B  plays 
ace  the  first  round — when  he  may  have  no  more — or 
when,  desirous  of  stopping  the  lead,  he  plays  ace  on 
knave,  and  then  leads  trumps,  in  which  event  he  may  be 
long  in  the  suit. 

With  ace  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  small  to  knave, 
and  to  the  second  round  the  ace,  if  C  follows  suit.  In 
the  event  of  A  leading  queen  after  knave — showing  at 
least  six  in  suit, — B  plays  ace  to  the  second  trick  whether 
C  discards  or  trumps,  as  D  can  have  but  two  cards  of 
the  suit,  one  of  which  will  fall,  and  A's  king  will  draw 
the  other  ;  but  if  A  leads  king  after  knave,  C  renounc- 
ing, B  plays  small,  for  if  he  throws  the  ace  D  may  be 
left  with  the  10  guarded,  and  a  trick  be  lost.  If  how- 
ever, B  has  the  10,  he  plays  the  ace,  and  A  reads  him 
with  the  10,  for  when  B  played  small  to  the  knave  he 
was  marked  with  at  least  one  small,  and  when  to  the 
second  trick  he  throws  the  ace — C  renouncing, — he 


198 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


notifies  A  that  his  small  card  is  the  10,  or  otherwise  the 
ace  would  not  have  been  played. 

With  ace  and  one  small  card,  B  plays  ace  to  knave 
led — if  C  follows  suit  ;  if  C  discards  or  trumps,  B  plays 
his  small  card. 

If  B,  after  the  second  round,  discards  from  the  suit, 
holding  ace  and  one  small  card,  he  discards  the  ace  that 
he  may  not  block  the  suit.  B's  discard  of  the  ace  will 
not  deceive  A,  for  when  B  played  small  to  the  second 
trick  he  was  marked  with  the  ace  and  at  least  one  small. 
For  example  : 


* 

*    * 

+*+ 
4»*+ 

*    * 

*    * 

* 
*    * 

*    * 
*   * 

'**** 
*     * 
****! 

*  *  *| 
*   *• 

*  *  *| 

C 

B 
A 

D 

*  *  +1 

*  *  4-1 

*  *  * 
*  *  * 

i. — A  leads  kn  ;  C  plays  6  ;  B  plays  5  ;  D  plays  7. 

The  4  not  falling,  A  reads  B  with  four  of  the  suit 
originally — unless  some  one  is  calling. 

2. — A  leads  k  ;  C  trumps  ;  B  plays  9  ;  D  plays  8. 

A  now  knows  that  B  has  the  ace,  4,  and  D  the  10 
single,  and  B  gives  A  the  queen  and  two  small,  and  if  he 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


I99 


subsequently  discards  from  the  suit,  he  throws  the  ace, 
and  A's  suit  is  cleared. 

With  four  small  cards,  B  plays  his  third-best  card  to 
kn  led — retaining  his  lowest  card,  and  his  subsequent 
play  is  the  same  as  when  queen  is  led  (see  analysis  of 
Third-Hand  Play — queen  led). 

B  holding  four  small  cards,  may  be  forced  to  abandon 
his  unblocking  tactics  on  the  third  round,  when  either  C 
or  D  is  void  of  the  suit.  As  : — 


*'*                     4. 

*A* 

*!L*|  1*..  *l  L*J  -  J-  J 

*  *  * 
*  *  * 

B 
C                               D 
A 

+  *  * 
«*    <- 

*«f-*^ 

* 

IfRlsf^ 


I?-? 


i. — A  leads  kn;  C  plays  ace;   B- plays  3;  D  discards. 
Now  suppose  that  trumps  come  out  and  A  leads — 
2. — A  leads  k;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  4;   D  discards. 
3. — A  leads  qu;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  2;  D  discards 
B  throws  the  2,  not  the  10,  for  it  is  certain  that  C  has 
the  9.     Had  A  followed  kn  with  qu,  then  B  would  have 
thrown  the   10  to  A's  third  lead,  as  in  this  case  C  could 
have  no  more  of  the  suit,  as  the  play  shows  that  A  held 
six  of  the  suit  originally. 


200 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


When  B  has  none  of  the  suit  he  passes  the  kn  led — 
discarding  from  his  weakest  suit.  It  is  assumed  that  A 
will  not — as  an  original  lead — lead  kn  from  kn,  10,  9, 
etc.,  and  that  the  lead  is  from  quart  major  or  tierce  to 
king,  and  B,  of  course,  will  not  trump  the  kn  unless  his 
hand  is  invincible. 

When  knave  is  led,  and  all  follow  suit  to  the  first 
round,  B,  holding  any  four  cards,  knows  that  A  can  take 
care  of  the  suit  unassisted,  as  C  or  D  can  have  at  the 
most  but  three  cards  of  the  suit.  This  being  the  case  B 
plays  his  four  cards  with  the  single  purpose  of  getting 
out  of  A's  way,  and  at  the  same  time  to  inform  A  that  he 
held  originally  four  cards  of  the  suit.  A  can  very  often 
read  on  the  first  round  of  the  suit  that  B  has  either  four 
cards  of  the  suit,  or  that  he  cannot  have  exactly  four.  In 
either  case,  this  may  be  valuable  information — if  not  in 
a  positive,  at  least  in  a  negative  way.  Take  the  follow- 
ing example  : — 


*  * 
* 

*  * 


*  * 

* 

*  *  * 


* 
**** 


*  * 

*  * 

*_*J 


4.  * 


B 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


201 


i. — A  leads  kn;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  6;  D  plays  7. 

If  no  one  is  calling,  A  knows  that  B  has  ace,  4  and  one 
other  card  of  the  suit  remaining,  and  he  knows  that  if 
he  continues  the  suit,  that  the  chances  are  that  either 
C  or  D  will  trump.  Give  D  the  10  in  the  above  case, 
and  then: — 

i. — A  leads  kn;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  4;  D  plays  7. 

It  is  improbable  that  B  held  five  cards  of  the  suit,  and 
it  is  certain  that  he  has  not  exactly  four  cards,  conse- 
quently A  gives  B  ace  and  one  small  card  and  knows 
that,  unless  one  of  the  opponents  held  four  cards  of  the 
suit,  it  will  run  twice. 

B  holding  ace  and  three  small  cards,  A  leading  the 
kn,  will  rarely,  if  ever,  be  forced  to  abandon  his  unblock- 
ing tactics,  if  A  plays  properly.  For  example: — 


*** 


*.* 

*"* 


B 


dSH[ 


D 


*    * 


&  i^  ki  l*__*j  L* 


i. — A  leads  kn;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  7;  D  trumps. 

As  before  stated,  B  cannot  possibly  lose  by  continuing 


202 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


his  unblocking  play — holding  four  cards, — if  all  follow  to 
the  first  round;  and  in  case  C  or  D  is  void — A  following 
kn  with  qu — he  still  cannot  lose,  as  A  can  exhaust  the 
opponents  unassisted.  But  when  A  shows  but  five  in 
all,  C  or  D  renouncing  to  the  first  round,  it  is  then  in- 
cumbent upon  A  to  so  play — trick  three, — that  B  may 
give  up  command. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  k;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  10. 

B  is  marked  with  ace  and  one  small,  and,  it  A  next 
leads  the  suit,  he  plays  the  3;  if  he  goes  on  with  the  qu, 
B  must  throw  the  5  (or  lose  a  trick),  and  the  suit  is 
blocked.  If  B  leads  the  suit  he  leads  the  ace,  and  if  led 
by  C,  B  plays  ace,  and  A's  suit  is  cleared. 

B  wishing  to  call  for  trumps,  holding  four  of  the  suit 
(A  leading  the  kn),  plays  his  second-best  card  to  the 
first  trick,  and  cannot  possibly  lose  by  the  play.  Take 
this  case: — 


* 

:*t 
:*: 

*    * 


*  * 

*  * 


*  *  *l 


**** 

* 
**** 


B 


D 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  203 

T. — A  leads  kn;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  10;  D  plays  5. 

A  can  read  absolutely  that  B  is  calling  and  leads  a 
crump  at  once;  for  it  is  highly  improbable  that  the  ace 
is  held  up  by  the  opponents,  consequently  must  be  with 
B.  If  B  had  ace,  10  only  he  would  have  played  ace  and 
returned  the  10;  if  he  had  ace,  10  and  one  small — not 
calling, — he  would  have  played  the  small  card;  he  did 
not  win  the  trick  because  he  wished  a  strengthening 
trump  from  A.  Had  B  played  the  7 — beginning  the 
call — A  could  not  have  read  the  play,  and  A  going  on 
with  the  suit  permitting  D  to  trump,  to  the  probable 
loss  of  several  tricks. 

It  is  taken  for  granted  that  the  knave  is  not  led  from 
kn,  10,  9  etc.  If  the  knave  is  lead  from  tierce  to  knave, 
B  cannot  afford  to  unblock  or  sacrifice  a  high  card  in 
calling,  unless  his  four  cards  are  all  smaller  than  the 
knave. 

Ten  Led  Originally. 

When  the  10  is  led  as  an  original  lead,  the  leader  has 
king,  kn,  10  and  one  or  more  small  cards. 

With  ace,  qu  and  more  than  two  small  cards,  B  plays 
his  lowest  card  to  the  10 — unless  he  is  desirous  of  ob- 
taining the  lead. 

With  ace,  qu  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  his  third- 
best  card  to  the  10,  and  the  qu  to  the  next  small  card 
led,  and  shows  ace  and  one  small  card  remaining. 

With  ace,  qu  and  one  small  card,  B  plays  small  to  the 
10,  and  to  the  second  round  throws  the  ace,  and  is 
marked  with  the  qu  only. 

With  ace,  qu  only,  B  plays  the  ace  to  the  10,  and  if 
expedient  returns  the  qu  at  once  and  can  have  no  more. 

With  ace  and  any  number  of  small  cards,  B  plays  the 


204 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


ace  to  the  10,  leaving  A  the  option  of  the  finesse  of  kn 
on  the  second  round.  After  winning  with  the  ace,  B,  if 
he  returns  the  suit,  leads  the  highest  of  two,  the  lowest 
of  more  than  two  cards;  unless,  however,  B  holds  the  9, 
8  and  one  small,  in  which  event  he  returns  the  9.  B's 
object  in  returning  the  9  is  twofold,  as  the  following  illus- 
tration demonstrates: — 


*  * 

*** 

* 

* 

*** 
*** 

*  * 

A 

*  * 

*** 

* 

B 


*** 
*** 


D 


i. — A  leads  10;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  ace;  D  plays  5. 

2. — B  leads  2;  D  plays  7;  A  plays  kn;  C  trumps. 

A,  of  course,  finesses  kn,  for  if  C  has  qu  he  must  'also 
have  one  more  at  least,  as  with  qu  and  one  small  he 
would  have  put  up  the  qu  first  round.  Now,  suppose 
trumps  come  out,  and  A  goes  on  with  the  suit,  he  must 
lead  k,  and  B  blocks  A's  suit.  Had  B  returned  the  9,  A's 
suit  would  have  been  cleared;  besides  the  return  of  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


205 


9  gives  A  the  option  of  passing  if  he  does  not  wish  the 
lead. 

With  qu  and  more  than  three  small  cards,  B  plays  his 
smallest  card  to  the  10. 

With  qu  and  three  small  cards,  B  plays  his  third-best 
card  to  the  10,  and  the.  second  round  his  middle  card, 
and  is  marked  with  the  qu  and  one  small. 

With  qu  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  his  smallest  card 
to  the  10,  and  to  the  second  round  the  qu,  provided, 
however,  that  A  shows  five  cards,  or  the  fall  would  indi- 
cate that  he  has  five  cards  at  least  in  the  suit.  As: — 


** 


B 


(1/tVj  SSffif 


D 


*A* 

^» 

4- 

*•* 

.%       * 

•?• 

*1+ 

* 

4* 

i. —  A  leads  10;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  4;  D  plays  5. 
2.  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  k;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  qu;  D 
plays  6. 


2O6 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


B  unblocks,  as  A  is  marked  with  the  trey  and  deuce 
and  the  9,  if  against,  is  unguarded.     Again: — 


*** 

4.  * 

*  * 

*** 

*    * 

B 
C                                D 
A 

* 

<*        * 

*  ! 

*        * 
* 
*        * 

i»y 

I*  *  * 

*  *  * 

I. — A  leads  10;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  4;  D  plays  ace. 

2.  (A  to  lead).— A  leads  k;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  8;  D 
plays  6. 

B  must  play  the  8  or  he  makes  D's  9  good. 

With  any  four  small  cards  (all  lower  than  the  10),  B 
plays  his  third-best  card  to  the  10 — retaining  his  lowest 
card. 

When  B  retains  his  lowest  card  to  the  10  led,  his 
subsequent  play  is  subject  to  the  rules  governing  the 
unblocking  game  (see  page  161).  Here,  also,  B  may  be 
forced  to  abandon  his  unblocking  tactics  on  the  third 
round  of  the  suit.  As: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


2O7 


*** 

*  + 


B 


D 


*** 

** 

** 


** 


i. — A  leads  10;  C  plays  5;   B  plays  3;   D  plays  ace. 

2.  (A  to  lead). — A   leads  k;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  7;  D 
trumps. 

3.  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  kn;  C   plays   qu;  B  plays  2; 
D  discards. 

B  cannot  place  the  8  with  A.  C  may  have  the  8,  and 
if  B  throws  the  9  a  trick  may  be  lost.  A  was  culpably 
negligent  here,  and  by  a  bad  play  forced  B  to  abandon 
his  unblocking  game.  The  deuce,  not  coming  out  in 
the  two  rounds,  was  marked  with  B,  who  must  conse- 
quently have  either  the  qu  or  9,  and  A  should  have  led 
the  8  at  trick  3;  in  which  event  B  would  have  played  the 
9  and  A's  suit  would  have  been  cleared.  Not  infre- 
quently bad  play  on  the  part  of  A  leaves  B  in  the  dark 
unnecessarily,  and  forces  him  to  block  A's  suit.  When 
A  can  read  that  B  has  retained  his  lowest  card,  he  should, 
as  in  this  instance,  so  play  to  the  third  round  of  the 
suit  that  B  may  read  him  with  the  command,  so  that  he 


208  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

may  be  enabled  to  pursue  his  unblocking  tactics.  As 
before  pointed  out,  the  great  advantage  of  the  unblock- 
ing game  is  that  it  very  often  enables  the  leader  to  count 
the  hands.  To  reap  full  returns,  the  leader  must  be  ever 
on  the  alert  to  note  the  absence  of  a  small  card  from  the 
fall  after  the  second  round. 

With  none  of  the  suit,  B  passes  the  10,  unless  covered 
by  C,  and,  even  in  this  event,  B  may  find  it  to  his  advan- 
tage to  pass,  holding  four  trumps  and  a  good  hand 
besides.  The  character  of  his  hand,  and  the  state  of  the 
score,  must  determine  for  B  the  advisability  of  passing 
the  10,  when  void  of  the  suit,  C  having  covered. 

In  regard  to  B  calling  for  trumps,  the  10  led,  he  can 
always  afford  to  play  his  second-best  card  the  first  round, 
holding  four  small  cards.  If  B  has  any  card  higher  than 
the  10,  /'.  ^.,  the  ace  or  queen,  it  is  assumed  that,  if  he 
desires  trumps  led,  he  will  cover  the  10,  thus  making  an 
effort  to  gain  the  lead. 

Nine  Led  Originally. 

The  9  is  led  as  an  original  lead  from  two  combina- 
tions, and,  like  the  king,  proclaims  exactly  four  in  suit — 
ace,  queen,  10,  9,  or  ace,  knave,  10,  9. 

B,  holding  any  four  cards  of  the  suit,  cannot  block  A, 
but  he  should  retain  his  lowest  card,  the  first  round — 
playing  his  third-best,  if  he  does  not  attempt  to  take  the 
trick  or  desire  to  call.  It  is  assumed  that  A,  as  the  first 
lead  of  all,  will  not  lead  the  9  from  any  combination 
except  the  ones  given  above.  In  rare  cases  A  may  lead, 
even  as  the  first  lead  of  the  hand,  from  9  and  two  small 
ones,  and  even  in  this  event  B  has  nothing  to  gain  by 
playing  the  court  card,  holding  queen  or  knave  and 
others;  for  if  the  lead  is  from  9  and  two  small,  B  hold- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


209 


ing  knave  and  two  or  three  small  ones,  is  not  likely  to 
make  a  trick  in  the  suit  with  the  ace,  king,  queen,  10  all 
against.  Putting  up  the  knave  the  first  round  would 
simply  establish  the  suit  at  once  for  the  opponents.  B 
has  nothing  to  gain  by  playing  his  third-best  card  the 
first  round — holding  exactly  four  cards  of  the  suit,  so  far 
as  unblocking  is  concerned,  but  as  a  matter  of  impart- 
ing valuable  information  to  A,  the  play  may  be  of  great 
advantage.  The  play  of  the  third-best  card  not  infre- 
quently enables  A  to  place  all  the  important  cards  the 
first  round,  and  nearly  always  the  second  round.  This 
is  of  much  greater  practical  value  than  the  purely 
unblocking  feature  of  the  play.  Suppose  the  follow- 
ing:— 


*  *  * 
*  * 

*  *  *J 


D 


*** 
*** 

* 


* 

* 
*  * 


i. — A  leads  9;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  6;  D  plays  3. 
Now,    barring   unusual    finesse,    or   holding    up,  and 
taking  it  for  granted  that  no  one  is  calling,  A  can  read 


2IO  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

from  the  fall  that  B  has  the  k,  kn,  2  exactly  of  the  suit, 
and  this  may  prove  of  great  advantage  to  A,  if  not  in  a 
positive  at  least  in  a  negative  way;  for  if  the  play  of  this 
suit    is    discontinued — A    leading    trumps    or    opening 
another  suit,  B  is  marked  with  these  three  cards.     Sub- 
sequently A  may  be  able  to  read  what  B  cannot  have  by 
knowing  what  he  must  have.     This  position  will  repay 
analysis:  To  begin  with,  the  king  cannot  be  with  B  unless 
he   has  the  kn,  for,  if  it  were  otherwise,  he  must  have 
played  the  king.     D  should  have  no  card  outranking 
the  9.     C  cannot  have  king,  knave,  8,  or  he  would  have 
played  knave,  and  if  he  held  originally  knave,  8,  7,  or 
knave,   7,   he  would  likewise  have  put   on  knave;    for 
second  hand  holding  knave  and  one  or  two  small  cards — 
the   9   led,  as  an  original  lead — should  play  knave.     If 
king  is  with  B  the  knave  cannot  make,  and  if  with  D 
a  trick  may  be  gained.     B  must  have  had  exactly  four 
cards  of  the  suit — the  deuce  not  falling.     B  cannot  have 
the  8,  for  in  this  case  C  could  have  had  at  most  king,  7, 
and  he  would  then  have  played  the  king  on  the  9  led.     B 
must  have  exactly  two  cards  higher  than  the  6  and  the 
deuce;  these  two  cards  higher  than  the  6  cannot  be  the 
knave,  8,  for  then  C  could  have  had  originally  king,  7 
only,  in  which  case  he  would  have  played  king;    these 
two  cards  cannot  be  the  king,  8,  for  then  B  must  have 
played  king;  consequently,  A  can   read  from  the  fall  to 
this   trick  that  B  has  king,  knave,  deuce  yet  in  hand  ;  C 
the  8  or  void,  and  D  the  5,  4,  and  possibly  the  8  also. 
Had  B  played  the  king  to  the  9  and  returned  the  deuce, 
A  could  not  have  placed  a  single  card  of  the  suit,  even 
after  the  second  round;  for,  so  far  as  A  could  then  read, 
the  knave,  6,  5  might  be  with  D.     No  other  card  but  B's 
third-best  imparts   so  much  information  to  A,  and  it  is 
certainly  greatly  to  A's  advantage  to  be  able  to  place  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


211 


suit   the  very  first   round  while   he   yet  has  possession  of 
the  lead. 

On  the  other  hand  suppose  the  lead  of  the  9  was  a 
forced  lead  from  9  and  two  small,  as: — 


i 

3 

•! 
4 

. 
t 

*  *  * 
***  * 

B 

*  4-  * 
*    * 

I*  *  * 

**** 
^  * 

:.:.:•:- 

*  *  * 

* 

A 

*  -  *   *    * 
*    *   *    * 

4* 

* 
* 

i.— A  leads  9;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  k;  D  plays  3. 

2.— B  leads  2;  D  plays  10;  A  plays  4;  C  plays  8. 

Here  C  D  have  three  tricks  in  the  suit  by  easy  play 
no  matter  who  next  leads  the  suit.  Now,  let  B  play  as 
first  suggested  : — 

i.— A  leads  9;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  6;  D  plays  10. 

And  B  must  make  one  trick— possibly  two.     Trans- 


212  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

pose  the  cards  as  you  may,  B  cannot  well  lose  by  passing 
the  9. 

B  holding  king,  queen;  king,  knave;  queen  or  knave, 
four  in  suit,  cannot  possibly  lose  by  playing  the  third- 
best  to  the  9  led — if  the  lead  is  not  forced,  and  by  the 
play  may  afford  A  very  important  information  that  no 
other  play  will  yield.  Not  one  hand  in  perhaps  fifty 
justifies  an  irregular  lead  as  the  first  of  all,  and  perhaps 
not  one  in  a  hundred  that  would  call  for  the  9  as  the  best 
of  three,  or  from  any  other  combinations  except  the  con- 
ventional ones;  and  even  then  it  is  about  an  even  chance 
that  the  play  of  second  hand  in  conjunction  with  the 
cards  B  holds  will  show  that  the  lead  is  forced,  and  he 
will,  of  course,  play  accordingly. 

With  king,  queen  and  more  than  two  small  cards,  B 
plays  his  smallest  card  to  the  9,  unless  he  is  desirous  of 
gaining  the  lead. 

With  king,  queen  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  his 
third-best  card  to  the  9,  and  to  the  second  round  the 
queen,  and  is  marked  with  king  and  one  small  card. 

With  king,  queen  and  one  small  card,  B  plays  queen 
to  9,  and  returns  king,  and  has  one  more  or  no  more. 

With  king,  knave  and  two  small  cards,  B  plays  his 
third-best  card  to  the  9,  and  the  knave  to  the  second 
round  and  is  marked  with  king  and  one  small. 

With  king,  knave  and  one  small  card  B  plays  small  to 
9  led,  and  to  the  second  round  the  king,  and  must  have 
the  knave  single. 

With  king,  knave  only,  B  plays  king  and  returns  the 
knave,  and  can  have  no  more. 

With  queen  or  knave  and  any  three  small  cards,  B 
plays  his  third-best  card  to  the  9,  and  to  the  second  round 
his  second-best  card,  and  is  marked  with  the  court  card 
and  one  small  card. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  213 

With  queen  or  knave  and  any  two  small  cards,  B  plays 
small  and  next  the  court  card  and  shows  one  small  only. 

With  queen  or  knave  and  one  small  card,  B  plays  the 
court  card  and  returns  the  small  card,  and  can  have  no 
more. 

With  any  four  small  cards,  B  plays  his  third-best  card 
to  the  9  and  his  subsequent  play  is  as  directed  in  previous 
analyses. 

With  none  of  the  suit,  B  should — usually — pass  the  9 
if  C  does  not  cover. 

With  any  four  cards  smaller  than  the  9,  B  can  safely 
sacrifice  his  second-best  card  the  first  round  if  he  wishes 
to  call,  and  if  he  wants  to  lead  trumps,  he  will  cover  the 
9,  if  holding  a  court  card.  If  B  wins  the  9  and  then 
leads  trumps,  he  can  give  no  information  as  to  the  number 
of  cards  he  may  have  of  the  suit.  If  B  does  not  make  an 
effort  to  win  the  9,  the  inference  is  that  he  does  not  wish 
to  lead  trumps,  or  that  he  has  no  court  card  in  the  suit; 
consequently  if  the  9  wins  B  is  not  calling,  for  if  B  has 
no  court  card  the  9  will  not  win,  and  holding  a  court 
card  in  the  suit  he  would  have  made  an  effort  to  get  the 
lead.  This  inference  is  subject  to  the  qualification  that 
B  might  prefer  a  trump  led  from  A;  but  this  would  be 
exceptional  as  if  B  is  strong  enough  to  want  trumps  led 
he  could  hardly  afford  to  risk  two  rounds  of  the  suit  in 
order  to  complete  the  call. 

Eight  Led  Originally. 

The  rank  of  the  low  card  led,  and  the  follow  of  second 
hand,  has  much  to  do  with  the  play  of  third  hand,  who 
will  put  up  his  best  card,  finesse,  or  pass  the  trick 
accordingly.  Few  players  give  the  attention  that  is  due 
to  the  rank  of  the  cards.  The  higher  the  rank  of  the 


214  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

low  card  led  the  more  information  it  discloses;  conse- 
quently third  hand  in  turn  can  often  give  partner  by 
well-judged  finesse,  or  by  passing  the  trick,  very  valuable 
information  that  unskillful  play  will  withhold. 

When  an  8  or  lower  card  is  led  originally,  third  hand 
gives  the  leader  credit  for  three  cards  in  the  suit,  all 
higher  than  the  one  first  led.  In  other  words,  the  leader 
has  not  a  high-card  combination  in  the  suit,  and  has  led 
\t\sfourth-best  card.  Third  hand  further  infers — barring 
a  suit  of  tenaces  or  an  exceptional  hand — that  the  suit 
the  leader  has  selected,  as  the  one  to  open  first  of  all,  is 
the  strongest  plain  suit  he  possesses,  viewed  in  the  light 
of  high  card  and  numerical  strength  combined. 

To  the  low  card  led,  B  is  supposed,  ordinarily,  to  play 
his  best  card,  if  needed.  (For  finessing  in  partner's  suit, 
see  chapter  on  Finesse.)  B  is  also  supposed  to  win  the 
trick  as  cheaply  as  possible;  that  is  to  say,  if  he  has 
cards  in  sequence,  he  plays  the  lowest  of  the  sequence, 
as  with  qu,  kn,  10,  he  plays  10,  unless  he  wishes  to  call 
for  trumps.  When  B's  cards  are  all  lower  than  the  card 
led,  or  lower  than  the  card  played  by  C,  he  plays  his 
lowest  card;  or  if  B's  higher  cards  are  in  sequence  with 
the  card  led  he  likewise  plays  his  lowest  card — as  the  6 
led,  C  playing  the  5,  B  holding  9,  8,  7,  4  plays  4.  Even 
the  best  players  are  often  sadly  remiss  in  the  play  of 
third  hand  when  a  fourth-best  card  is  led.  It  not  in- 
frequently happens  that  B  can  read  the  exact  combina- 
tion from  which  A  has  led,  and  by  passing  the  trick  he 
imparts  very  valuable  information.  For  illustration: 
If  A  leads  the  8— -plain  suit, — third  hand  with  any  of 
the  following  holdings  should  pass  the  trick,  as  finesse  is 
absurd,  and  the  play  of  the  best  unnecessary  unless 
third  hand  wishes  to  make  an  effort  to  get  into  posses- 
sion of  the  lead  for  a  particular  purpose.  Third  hand 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


215 


holding  any  of  the  following  combinations,  with  or  with- 
out any  smaller  card: — 


and  others. 


and  others. 


and  others. 


and  others, 


and  others,  j 


Plays  his  lowest  card  to 
the  8  led  by  partner. 


To  finesse  or  put  up  the  best  card  is  useless,  as  the  8 
is  as  likely  to  win  the  trick  as  any  card  third  hand  may 
play.  In  each  instance  the  ace  or  king  must  be  against, 
and  the  8  either  forces  its  play  or  wins  the  trick,  and  if 


2l6 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


third  hand  properly  passes,  the  information  it  affords  is 
very  valuable.  How  often  it  occurs  that  third  hand  puts 
up  his  best  card,  with  these  holdings  as  if  intent  upon 
keeping  partner  in  the  dark.  Suppose  the  following: — 


*  * 

*** 
*** 

*  * 


*  * 
* 

*  4 


B 


*  * 


D 


f 


i. — A  leads  8;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  4;  C  plays  6. 
Mark  what  A  can  read;  D  has  the  7  or  no  more,  or  is 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  21 7 

calling.  C  cannot  have  both  king  and  queen,  as  he  would 
then  have  played  qu;  B  cannot  have  the  k  unless  he  has 
also  the  qu,  9,  for  with  k,  9  only  or  k,  qu  only  he  would 
not  have  passed  the  trick;  B  must  have  the  9  if  he  has 
trje  qu,  otherwise  he  would  have  put  up  qu,  consequently 
B  has  either  k,  qu,  9  or  qu,  9,  and  C  must  have  the  k  or 
no  high  card.  Suppose  on  the  other  hand — 

i. — A  leads  8;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  qu;  D  plays  6. 

The  only  inference  A  can  draw  is  that  D  has  not  the 
king;  for  aught  he  can  tell,  C  may  have  the  other  six 
cards  of  the  suit,  and  all  because  B  played  as  if  he  had 
never  heard  of  the  "  fourth-best  card."  You  must  pay 
respect  to  the  rank  of  the  cards.  It  is  understood,  of 
course,  that  if  A  leads  the  8  late  in  hand,  when  he  may 
be  underplaying,  holding  both  ace  and  king,  for  instance, 
or  when  the  8  may  be  the  best  card  he  has  of  the  suit,  B 
does  not  pass,  but  puts  up  his  best  card. 


Seven  Led  Originally. 

So,  also,  with  the  following  holding,  third  hand  should 
pass  the  7  led — plain  suit, — by  partner,  provided,  of 
course,  that  he  does  not  wish  to  make  an  effort  to  gain 
the  lead. 

Third  hand  holding  any  of  the  following  combinations, 
with  or  without  any  smaller  card: — 


2l8 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


*     * 


*      * 


*,* 


:*: 


+** 
*** 

*  * 


v- 


*** 


*  * 


:*: 


:*: 


Plays  his  lowest  card  to  the  7 
led  by  partner 


In  each   instance   the   card   against  the  7  must  win,  np 
matter  which  card  B  throws,  and  B  passing  may  give  A 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


2I9 


a  fund  of  information.  It  must  not  be  forgotten  that 
here,  as  with  the  8,  B  must  be  careful  how  he  passes  in 
trumps,  for  the  leader  is  very  likely  to  lead  small  from 
ace,  k,  and  others,  or  k,  qu,  and  others,  and  that  the 
foregoing  applies  particularly  to  plain  suits.  As  an  illus- 
tration of  passing  the  7,  suppose  the  following:  — 


*    * 
*,* 


*** 

v 

*** 


* 

* 

* 
* 

* 
* 

* 
* 

* 
* 
* 

B 


D 


:*: 


i. — A  leads  7;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  3;  D  plays  6. 

B  knows  that  the  ace,  k,  kn,  10  are  the  cards  in  the 
suit  higher  than  the  7,  and  that  A  must  hold  either  ace, 
kn,  10  or  k,  kn,  10;  if  the  latter,  he  would  have  opened 
with  the  10  and  not  the  7,  consequently  he  must  have  the 
former,  and  the  k  only  is  against.  The  7  wins,  and  win- 
ning tells  the  story.  But  suppose: — 

i. — A  leads  7;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  qu;  D  plays  6. 

A  here  cannot  surmise  how  the  suit  lies;  D  could  have 
the  9,  8,  or  C  could  have  the  k,  9,  8  and  others,  or  the 
control  may  be  with  B.  You  can  readily  see  what  a  vast 
difference  this  might  make  in  A's  game.  Care,  great 


220 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


care,  and  thoughtful  work  is  necessary  to  get  all  out  of 
the  fourth-best  principle  that  there  is  in  it.  It  matters 
not  that  you  may  not  hold  any  one  of  the  nine  combina- 
tions, in  the  last  tabulation,  in  a  dozen  hands— the  7  led — 
but  in  the  thirteenth  hand  you  may,  and  you  should  not 
miss  the  opportunity  to  play  it  properly.  The  Grand 
Coup  may  never  come  to  you,  yet  you  are  on  the  alert  to 
play  it,  if  it  ever  comes.  As  you  descend  in  the  scale, 
the  fourth-best  card  becomes,  in  a  measure,  less  informa- 
tory,  and  it  requires  a  more  exceptional  distribution  of 
the  suit  to  enable  partner  to  finesse  or  pass  with  safety. 


Six  Led  Originally. 

It  is,  however,  in  the  exceptional  hands  that  the  mod- 
erate player  not  infrequently  becomes  lost,  or  makes 
some  bad  play,  and  throws  away  a  great  game.  Here  is 
an  example: — 


*** 
*** 


*** 
*    * 

*** 


*** 

*  * 

*  * 

* 

*  * 

*  * 

B 

*  * 
*  * 

c 

D 

*  +  *• 

L  2SPi^ 

*        * 

A 

'•frj&jftl 

*,t,* 

*   * 

* 

m 

+  •* 

*** 
*** 

*   * 
*   * 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  221 

i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  4;   B  plays  qu;   D  plays  2. 

B  thoughtlessly  plays  the  queen,  and  it  may  cost  him 
no  less  than  six  tricks.  B  should  have  played  the  5, 
knowing  that  the  6  must  force  the  king  or  win  the  trick. 
Let  this  be  the  diamond  suit,  B's  other  cards  being  qu, 
kn,  10,  7,  hearts;  ace,  qu,  7,  3,  clubs  (trumps);  and  no 
spade.  Now,  suppose  thatB  goes  in  to  make  the  diamond 
suit — and  this  would  be  about  in  keeping  with  his  play  of 
the  qu — leading  the  3  of  clubs.  If  he  finds  D  with  kn, 
10  and  three  other  spades;  four  small  hearts,  and  the  9, 
8  clubs.  A  with  ace,  k  and  a  small  heart;  three  small 
spades;  kn,  10,  2  of  clubs.  C,  ace,  k,  qu  and  two  other 
spades;  two  small  hearts;  king  and  three  small  trumps — 
A  B  will  escape  with  the  bare  odd  card.  If  B  passes 
four  rounds  of  spades  A  B  make  three  by -cards.  On 
the  other  hand  if  B  properly  passes  the  6,  A, — seeing 
that  at  least  one  more  round  will  establish  the  diamonds, 
and  having  reentry  cards  in  hearts — at  once  leads  the  kn 
of  clubs,  and  A  B  take  every  trick,  a  gain  of  six  tricks. 
The  one  absolutely  wrong  play  costs  B  six  tricks. 

The  leader  leading  the  6 — plain  suit, — third  hand 
holding  any  of  the  following  ten  combinations,  should 
pass  the  6 — throwing  a  smaller  card  if  he  has  one, 
mainly  as  a  matter  of  information  to  partner,  which  may 
prove  of  great  value. 

Third  hand  holding  any  of  the  following  combinations, 
with  or  without  any  smaller  card — 


222 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Plays  his  lowest  card 
to  the  6  led  by  part- 
ner. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


223 


In  each  instance  the  6  is  as  good  as  any  card  third 
hand  holds,  and  the  6  will  either  win  the  trick  or  force 
the  ace  or  king. 

When  B  can  read  the  exact  combination  that  A  has 
led  from,  and  knows  that  he  must  be  longer  in  the  suit 
than  A,  he  passes  the  card  led  for  a  double  purpose: 
first — as  has  been  pointed  out, — that  the  leader  may  read 
the  hands,  and,  second — that  B  may  not  block  his  own 
suit.  Take  this  case: — 


*   * 

:*: 

*  * 

*** 

V 

*** 

*** 

*  * 
*  * 

*  * 
*  * 

* 


B 
C                                D 
A 

• 

*       * 
* 
*       * 

i*** 

+  ** 

*    * 

*'* 

*    * 

**+ 

4.    4, 

i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  4;  D  plays  3. 

B  can  count  the  cards  in  A's  hands  and  knows  that  he 
has  led  from  ace,  qu,  10,  6  only,  and  that  the  king  only  is 
against,  If  B  puts  up  the  kn  he  hopelessly  blocks  his 
own  suit  and  needlessly  keeps  A  in  the  dark.  As  soon 
as  A  dropped  the  6,  B  knew  that  he  was  longer  in  the 


224 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


suit  than  A,  for  if  A  had  held  five  or  more  in  suit  he 
would  have  opened  with  the  ace. 

2. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  7;  D  plays  5. 

If  trumps  come  out  and  A  goes  on  with  this  suit,  he 
leads  qu;  and  if  next  led  by  B,  he  leads  the  8,  A  wins 
with  queen  and  returns  the  10,  and  B  will  make  his 
small  card. 

The  fourth-best  card  is  selected  for  the  express  pur- 
pose of  publishing  information.  C  at  second  hand  is 
supposed  to  take  advantage  of  the  information  when  in 
his  power  to  do  so,  and  if  B  does  not  make  all  the  use  of 
it  possible,  the  opponents  reap  the  advantage  in  the  end. 

When  second  hand  covers,  the  card  he  plays  may 
enable  B  to  read  A's  hand,  whereas  otherwise  he  could 
not.  Take  this  case: — 


V 

*** 


B 


*    * 

*A* 
*** 


D 


*  * 

*  * 

*  * 


i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  8;  D  plays  2. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


225 


C,  covering  the  6  with  7,  enables  B  to  read  at  once  that 
A  has  led  from  either  ace,  10,  9,  6  or  king,  10,  9,  6,  and 
he  plays  the  8,  not  the  knave,  and  the  8  winning  the  trick 
informs  A  that  B  has  the  queen,  knave  or  ace,  qu,  kn, 
and  that  C  has  the  ace  or  no  more,  or  is  possibly  calling. 
Had  C  not  covered  with  the  7,  B  must  have  played  kn  as 
the  7  might  then  be  with  D.  Had  B  played  kn,  then  A 
could  not  have  placed  a  single  card  in  the  suit,  as,  so  far 
as  he  could  read,  C  could  hold  ace,  qn,  8.  In  the  first 
case  he  knows  on  the  very  first  round  that  one  more 
round,  at  least,  will  establish  the  suit;  in  the  second  he 
cannot  read  for  a  certainty  another  trick  in  the  suit. 
Again: — 


:*: 

*   * 


B 


* 


i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  7;  D  plays  3. 

C  playing  the  6,  B  reads  that  A  has  led  from  either 


226  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

ace,  kn,  8  or  k,  kn,  8,  and  in  either  case  his  7  holds  the 
trick  or  forces  the  play  of  the  single  court  card  that  is 
against.  Mark  how  informatory  the  play  is.  D  has  the 
4  or  no  more.  B  must  have  the  qu,  10,  9,  possibly  the 
king  also,  and  C  has  the  king  single,  or  void.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  B  plays  qu,  A  cannot  place  a  single  unplayed 
card,  as  in  this  case  the  k,  10,  9  could  be  with  C,  and  the 
deuce  only  with  B. 

The  point  is,  that  whenever  B  can  read  the  combina- 
tion which  A  has  led  from,  or  when  he  can  read  that  it 
must  be  one  of  two  or  three  combinations,  he  plays  the 
lowest  card  that  will  either  win  the  trick  or  force  the  play 
of  a  card  from  D  higher  in  rank  than  his  best  card.  This 
is  not  finesse,  it  is  simply  playing  the  lowest  of  two  or 
more  cards  in  sequence.  If  B  knows  that  A,  for  instance, 
has  the  king,  queen,  B  has  virtually  a  quint  sequence, 
holding  the  ace,  kn,  10  and  the  TO  as  a  trick-maker  is 
just  as  valuable  as  the  ace,  and  B  plays  these  three  cards, 
if  practicable,  in  such  a  manner,  that  A  may  read  that  he 
has  them  at  the  earliest  moment. 


Low  Card  Led  Originally. 

When  a  low  card  is  led  originally,  B,  with  any  number 
of  cards,  is  supposed  to  play  a  card  sufficiently  high  to 
win  the  trick,  if  in  his  power,  and,  as  has  been  pointed  out, 
this  may  not  necessarily  be  his  highest  card.  (Finesse  is 
not  considered.  Instructions  in  finesse  will  be  found  in 
the  chapter  devoted  to  that  feature  of  third-hand  play.) 
When  third  hand  makes  an  effort  to  win  the  first  round 
of  the  suit — a  low  card  being  led — his  play  to  the  second 
round  may  be  modified  by  the  fall  of  the  cards.  When 
it  is  evident  that  A  commands  the  suit,  B  will,  of  course, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


227 


play  to  unblock,  if  he  holds  blocking  cards.  If,  on  the 
contrary,  it  develops  that  B  is  longer  in  the  suit  than  A, 
B  will  play  to  keep  control  when  he  can  do  so,  and  not 
endanger  the  loss  of  a  trick.  Take  this  case: — 


* 


*** 

*^* 

*** 
*** 


*** 


D 


*    * 


4- 


i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  kn;   D  plays  k. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  8;  C  discards;  B  plays  2;  D 
plays  ace. 

Here,  upon  the  second  round,  B  reads  that  A  has  10, 
9  only  remaining,  and  that  D  has  the  ace,  5,  and  con- 
sequently B  plays  to  keep  control  of  the  suit  that  A  may 
not  block  him.  If  B  puts  up  the  qu,  he  blocks  his  own 
play. 

As  B  does  not  necessarily  play  his  best  card  the  second 
round,  neither  does  he  always  play  his  lowest  card.  If 
the  play  develops  the  fact  that  A  has  the  numerical 
strength,  B  with  blocking  cards — while  he  may  not  find 


228 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


it  practicable  to  play  his  highest  card, — may  play  his 
middle  card — retaining  his  lowest.  In  the  preceding 
example,  if  A  has  the  5,  D  the  4,  leaving  B  the  qu,  kn, 

3,  2  then:— 

i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  kn;  D  plays  k. 
2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  5;  C  discards;  B  plays  2;  D 
plays  ace. 

A  can  read  that  B  has  the  qu  and  at  least  the  trey  or 

4,  for   B  would  have  played  the  qu,  holding  qu,  deuce 
only. 

When  to  a  low  card  led,  C  plays  a  card  higher  than 
B  can  .cover,  he  must  play  his  lowest  card,  no  matter 
what  it  is  or  how  many  cards  he  may  have.  As: — 


** 

*** 
*** 


*     * 


** 


* 


i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  qu;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  4. 
Now,  if  A  next  leads  the  suit,  he  leads  the  3,  and  a 
suit  of  five  cards  is  proclaimed,  and  B  knows  that  two 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  22Q 

cards  only  are  with  the  opponents,  and  he  should  pre- 
pare to  unblock.  As: — 

2. — A  leads  3;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  10;  D  renounces. 

When  A  showed  five  in  suit  by  the  lead  of  the  3  after 
6,  he  requested  B  not  to  block  his  suit,  and  B  playing 
the  10  is  simply  doing  what  A  has  requested  him  to  do 
and  the  play  should  not  deceive  A. 

3  (C  to  lead). — C  leads  ace;  B  plays  kn;  D  renounces; 
A  plays  7. 

A's  suit  is  cleared.  Had  B  played  the  5  to  the  second 
round,  this  would  not  have  been  the  case. 

When  B  prepares  to  unblock  on  the  second  round,  he 
must  throw  the  higher  of  his  two  remaining  cards  on  the 
third  round.  Likewise,  if  he  discards  from  the  suit,  he 
must  play  the  higher  card.  If  B's  three  cards  are  such 
that  he  cannot  possibly  block,  or  if  they  are  cards  of 
equal  value  that  must  block  no  matter  how  he  may  play, 
he  should  then  in  both  instances  play  his  lowest  remaining 
card  to  the  second  round.  For  instance,  if  B's  three  cards 
are  the  5,  4,  3  he  plays  from  the  lowest  up,  and  if  after 
playing  to  the  first  round  lie  is  left  with  say  kn,  10,  9,  he 
must  likewise  play  the  lowest  card  to  the  second  round. 
B  only  prepares  to  unblock  on  the  second  round — by 
playing  his  middle  card — when  his  cards  may  block  A's 
suit,  and  when  by  playing  his  middle  card  he  may  avoid 
blocking  A.  As  soon  as  A  shows  more  than  four  cards 
B  should  play  to  unblock,  if  he  has  blocking  cards,  but 
not  otherwise. 

It  is  just  as  important  for  B  to  unblock  in  a  suit  that 
A  has  opened  with  a  low  card,  as  it  is  when  A  opens  a 
suit  with  a  high  card;  for  in  such  cases  the  unblocking 
play  is  made  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  in  the  small 
card  or  cards  of  the  suit.  A  few  examples  illustrating 
unblocking  play  on  the  part  of  B,  when  a  low  card  is 


230 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


led,  will  make  this  evident  and  clearly  show  its  advan- 
tages. 


Unblocking  on  the  Second  Round. 


i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  qu;  B  plays  2;   D  plays  ace. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  4;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  10;  D 
discards. 

A  shows  five  in  suit,  and  B  having  blocking  cards  pre- 
pares to  get  out  of  the  way,  by  playing  his  middle  card. 
If  C  now  leads  the  6,  B  plays  kn;  if  B  next  leads  the 
suit,  or  discards  from  it,  the  knave  is  thrown,  and  if  led 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


23I 


by  A,  B  plays  kn  and  A's  suit  is  freed.     If  B  plays  the 
trey  to  the  second  round,  A's  suit  is  blocked.     Again: — 


*    * 

* 

* 

*    * 

_*_ 

B 


D 


*    * 


*     * 


i. — A  leads  7;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  3;  D  plays  2. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  6;  C  trumps;  B  plays  qu;  D 
plays  5. 

If  B  plays  the  4,  A's  suit  of  five  is  blocked.  Note 
that  the  play  of  the  queen  does  not  deceive  A;  on  the 
contrary,  B's  unblocking  play  of  the  qu,  in  this  instance, 
enables  A  to  place  the  suit;  for  if  B  held  qu,  4  only,  he 
would  not  have  played  the  qu;  if  the  qu,  10,  4,  he  would 
have  played  the  10,  consequently  the  k,  4  are  marked  in 
B's  hand  and  the  10  in  D's.  D  cannot  have  the  k  un- 


232 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


less  he  began  a  call  upon  the  second  round,  holding  k, 
10,  5,  4,  2,  originally  of  the  suit.  When  the  suit  is  next 
led,  B  plays  king,  and  A's  suit  is  cleared.  Or  again:— 


B 


D 


*** 
*** 

4.    * 


v 
*** 


F** 


*    * 


i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  qu;  B  plays  k;  D  plays  ace. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  2;  C  trumps;  B  plays  10;  D 
plays  4. 

B  is  marked  with  the  knave,  3,  D  the  5.  When  the 
suit  is  next  led,  B  plays  knave,  and,  if  he  discards  from 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


233 


the  suit,  he  throws  the  kn,  and  A's  suit  is  unblocked. 
Once  more: — 


*  *  *.* 

:*:  v 

*      *     *** 

*^*     *     * 
A     A     A     A 
A     A     A     A 

B 
C                                D 
A 

*  *  * 

A* 

*A* 
A** 


* 


A      A 


i. — A  leads  4;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  6;  D  plays  k. 

2. — D  leads  ace;  A  plays  2;  C  plays  qu;  B  plays  7. 

Here  B  plays  his  lowest  card  although  A  has  shown  a 
suit  of  five  cards,  for  B's  three  cards  are  in  sequence. 
If  they  block  A's  suit,  no  play  will  avoid  it,  and  any 
card  but  the  lowest  may  possibly  deceive  A,  where  there 
is  no  occasion  for  it. 


234 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Unblocking  on  the  Third  Round. 


When  third  hand  holds  exactly  four  cards,  one  high 
and  three  small  ones,  he  may  find  it  expedient  to 
unblock  on  the  third  round. 

Suppose  the  following  case: — 


C 


*** 

*  * 

4-    * 


B 


f*     m 

I**  *! 


*** 
*** 


*** 
*** 

+  * 


*4.* 
4.  * 


T  _A  leads  8;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  4- 

2  (A  to  lead).— A   leads  10;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  3; 

D  plays  5. 

3  (A  to  lead).— A  leads  9;  C  trumps;  B  plays  qu;  D 

discards. 

A,  by  the  lead  of  the  10  after  8,  shows  the  quart  to 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  235 

knave  and  one  small,  and  B  properly  plays  the  qu  to 
the  third  round  and  clears  the  suit  for  A.  It  may  happen 
that  A  does  not,  as  here,  lead  a  lower  card  on  the  second 
round  than  he  did  on  the  first,  but,  if  B  can  read  that  he 
has  five  or  more,  he  plays  to  unblock  either  on  the  second 
or  third  round  of  the  suit.  B  will  unblock,  though  he 
may  hold  only  three  cards  of  the  suit  originally.  Take 
the  example  last  illustrated,  giving  A  the  trey  also,  and 
then:— 

i. — A  leads  8;  C  plays  k;   B  plays  2;  D  plays  4. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  9;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  qu; 
D  plays  5. 

A  shows  the  quart  sequence,  six  in  suit,  and  B  gets 
rid  of  the  command  by  throwing  the  queen.  A  cannot 
place  the  7,  but  showing  B  six  in  suit,  he  should  read 
that  B  would  play  just  as  he  did,  holding  the  qu,  7. 
Besides,  if  B  plays  the  7,  A  is  in  the  dark  as  to  the 
location  of  the  queen,  and  his  suit  is  blocked. 


SUMMARY. 

The  salient  features  of  the  unblocking  game  may  be 
summed  up  as  follows: — 

High  Card  Led  Originally. 

1.  When  ace,  queen,  knave,  ten  or  nine  is  led  origin- 
ally, third  hand  with  any  four  cards  of  the  suit  exactly, 
plays  his  third-best  card  to  the  first  round — retaining  his 
lowest  card. 

2.  If  leader,  second  or  fourth  hand  continues  the  suit, 
third  hand  plays  his  second  best  card. 

3.  To  the  third  round,  third  hand  plays  the  higher  or 


236  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

lower  of  his  two  remaining  cards,  as  the  fall  to  the  pre- 
vious rounds  may  demand. 

4.  If  third  hand  returns  the  suit — having  played  his 
third-best  to  the  first  trick — he  leads  the  highest  of  his 
three  remaining  cards. 

5.  If  third  hand  discards  from  the  suit,  he  discards  the 
middle  card. 

6.  Third  hand  wishing   to  call,    and  also  prepare  to 
unblock,  plays  his  second-best  card  to  the  first  trick,  and 
his  third-best  card  to  the  second  round  of  the  suit. 

7.  Third  hand  must  abandon  the  call  or  the  unblock- 
ing tactics,  if  the  play  of  the  second-best  card  to  the  first 
round  may  endanger  a  trick. 

8.  When  third  hand  plays  his  third-best  card  to  the 
first  trick,  and  his  second-best  card  to  the  second  trick, 
he  does  not  call,  if  he  abandons  his  unblocking  play 
on  the  third  round — throwing  his  small  card. 

9.  When  king  is  led,  third  hand  does  not  unblock,  but 
plays  his  lowest  card. 

Low  Card  Led  Originally. 

10.  When  a  lower  card  than  the  nine  is  led  third  hand, 
not  attempting  to  win  the  trick  or  call  for  trumps,  plays 
his  lowest  card  to  the  first  round. 

11.  To  the  second  round  of  the  suit  third  hand,  hold- 
ing four  of  the  suit  originally,  plays  his  middle  card — 
holding  cards  that  may  block  the  leader's  suit, — if  he 
can  read  at  the  time  that  the  leader  led  from  five  or 
more  cards  in  suit  originally. 

12.  Third  hand  does  not  unblock  on  the  second  round 
of  the  suit,  when  his    three  cannot  possibly  block,  or 
when  they  are  such  cards  that  no  play  will  prevent  them 
from  blocking  the  leader's  suit. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  237 

13.  Third  hand  will  unblock  on  the  second  or  third 
round  of  the  suit  whenever  the  play  demonstrates  that 
the  leader  is  longer  in  the  suit  than  he  is.  even  though 
he  held  but  three  cards  originally,  provided  the  unblock- 
ing play  does  not  endanger  a  trick  in  the  suit. 


&s  Play  when   A    is    not  the    Original  Leader  of  the 
Hand. 

So  far  the  analysis  of  third-hand  play  has  been  based 
upon  the  assumption  that  A  was  the  original  leader  of 
the  hand;  consequently  the  card  led  was  supposed  to  be 
strictly  conventional,  as  prescribed  in  the  Table  of  Leads, 
therefore,  the  play  laid  down  as  proper  for  B  is  all  sub- 
ject to  this  condition. 

When  A  is  not  the  original  leader  of  the  hand,  but 
gains  possession  of  the  lead  early  in  the  play  of  the 
hand,  he  is  supposed  to  lead  conventionally  if  he  opens 
a  fresh  suit,  should  nothing  exceptional  have  occurred  in 
the  few  rounds  that  have  been  played;  and  B's  play  in 
the  suit  proceeds  upon  the  assumption  that  A  has  not 
played  irregularly;  e.g.:  — 

i. — C  leads  4;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  qu;  A  plays  k. 

If  A  now  opens  a  fresh  suit,  he  is  supposed  to  lead  the 
same  as  if  he  was  the  first  of  all  to  lead.  There  is  noth- 
ing in  the  fall  to  this  round  to  indicate  that  A  would 
lead  irregularly,  and  B  should  play  much  the  same  as  if 
A  was  the  original  leader.  If  A  opens  a  suit  with  a 
high  card,  B  reads  him  for  the  conventional  holding,  and 
plays  as  explained  in  the  previous  pages. 

If,  however,  A  comes  into  the  lead  after  several  rounds 
have  been  played,  his  play  must  be  read  subject  to  the 
information  the  previous  play  has  afforded.  For  ex- 


238  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

ample:  If  the  opponents  have  led  trumps,  and  have  a 
plain  suit  declared,  A  may  lead  the  queen,  knave  or  ten 
as  a  strengthening  card  from  the  highest  of  three  for  the 
benefit  of  B's  supposed  suit,  in  preference  to  opening  his 
own  medium  strong  suit.  The  fall  of  the  cards  to  the 
rounds  that  have  been  played,  before  A  gains  the  lead, 
will  usually  enable  B  to  judge  of  the  probability  of  irre- 
gular play  upon  A's  part.  Furthermore,  if  A  opens  with 
a  high  card  like  the  qu,  kn,  10  or  9,  C's  play  to  the  card, 
in  conjunction  with  the  cards  B  has  in  the  suit,  will 
nearly  always  show  if  the  lead  be  irregular. 

The  high-card  leads,  as  now  advised,  are  so  pro- 
nounced in  character,  that  B  is  almost  always  able  to 
detect  an  unconventional  lead.  If,  for  example,  A  leads 
9,  B  with  ace  or  10,  or  qu  and  kn,  knows  the  lead  is 
forced;  or  10  led,  B  with  k  or  kn;  kn  led,  B  holding  qu 
or  k,  etc.  A  will  rarely  open  a  fresh  suit  with  an  8  or 
lower  card,  except  it  is  the  usual  fourth-best.  When  an 
8,  7  or  6  is  led  as  the  best  card  of  the  suit,  B  will  usually 
detect  it,  for,  unless  the  opponents  have  the  strength  in 
the  suit,  B  can  read  that  it  cannot  be  a  fourth-best  card 
(see  Eight  Leads,  page  25),  and  to  do  this  he  need  not 
have  of  necessity  all  the  higher  cards,  as — 8  led,  B,  with 
ace,  9  or  10,  9,  knows  the  lead  is  forced. 

Rules  and  maxims  for  play  cannot  be  formulated  to 
meet  exceptional  cases,  and  after  the  first  few  rounds  of 
a  hand  individual  ingenuity,  judgment  and  whist  per- 
ception must  be  exercised. 

The  Play  in   Trumps. 

Third-hand  play  in  trumps  is  radically  different  from 
third-hand  play  in  plain  suits.  The  conditions  are  not 
the  same.  In  plain  suits  A  plays  to  make  his  long  small 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  239 

cards,  and  B's  play  is  to  assist  at  the  outset,  and  not 
hinder  or  defeat  him  at  the  finish.  In  trumps  the  long 
cards  must  make.  Underplay,  finessee,  holding  up  and 
irregular  leads  and  plays  enter  largely  into  the  play  of 
trumps,  and  inferences  cannot  be  drawn  so  rigidly  as  in 
plain  suits.  As  B  cannot  block  A's  trump  suit,  he  con- 
sequently plays  without  taking  this  feature  into  con- 
sideration at  all.  His  principal  object  is  to  assist  A  in 
exhausting  the  opponents,  and  at  the  same  time  inform 
A  of  his  exact  numerical  strength  as  early  in  the  play  as 
possible.  B  is  permitted  to  finesse  much  more  deeply 
in  trumps  than  in  plain  suits,  from  the  fact  that  the 
winning  trumps  must  make;  besides,  the  leader  will  often 
lead  from  the  highest  of  three  cards.  B  may  unblock  in 
trumps  to  avoid  taking  the  lead  on  the  last  round  of 
trumps,  or  it  may  happen  that  B  may  block  A  in  his 
effort  to  draw  the  trumps,  and  this  B  should  be  on  the 
alert  to  avoid. 

(For  full  analysis  of  third-hand  play  in   trumps,   see 
Chapters  on  The  Echo,  and  Trumps.) 


240  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER   V. 


FOURTH    HAND. 

THE  fourth-hand  player  who  thinks  he  must  take 
every  trick  that  comes  to  him,  simply  because  he  can  take 
it,  has  much  to  learn,  and  much  to  unlearn.  There  is 
no  chair  at  the  whist  table  in  which  an  automaton  may 
sit.  The  player  fourth  hand  must  know  when,  and  when 
not,  to  take.  He  must  know  that  a  great  game  is  some- 
times made  by  taking  a  trick  his  partner  has  already 
won,  or  passing  the  opportunity  to  take  a  trick  although 
in  his  power  to  do  so.  It  may  happen  that  the  only  pos- 
sible way  to  make  or  save  a  game,  is  by  fourth  hand  pass- 
ing two,  three  or  more  tricks  in  succession,  any  one  of 
which  might  have  been  taken.  Fourth  hand  may  have 
to  overtrump  his  partner's  trick,  or  undertrump  his  ad- 
versary's. He  may  have  a  trump  too  many,  or  some 
high  card  that  he  must  throw  away. 

A  great  game  is  often  made  by  the  insidious  play  and 
beautiful  finesse  of  fourth  hand.  The  student  will 
understand  that  in  the  great  majority  of  cases  fourth 
hand  does  take  the  trick  if  he  can;. but  it  should  be  im- 
pressed upon  his  mind  that  he  must  be  on  the  alert  for 
the  exceptional  situations,  so  that  when  they  come  to  him 
in  practice,  he  may  not  miss  the  better  play. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


241 


A   few   examples   will    illustrate   this.      Suppose  this 
case : — 


* 

*  * 


B 


D 


*  *  * 


4.  4. 


A  turned  3  h;  these  two  suits  only  are  given,  as  they 


242  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

will  illustrate  the  point.  D  has  a  great  suit  of  d;  A 
of  s. 

i. — C  leads  k  c;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  7;  A  plays  6. 

A  here  refuses  to  take  the  trick;  he  suspects  that  D 
may  be  calling;  and  if  he  can  induce  C  to  lead  a  trump 
up  to  his  major  tenace,  it  will  be  to  his  advantage. 

2. — C  leads  10  c;  B  plays  3;   D  plays  4;  A  plays  9. 

A  passes  again;  D  completes  the  call;  C  gives  D  the 
ace  and  8  of  clubs — B  the  5. 

3.— C  leads  kn  h;  B  plays  5;  D  plays  7;  A  plays  3. 

A  still  refuses  to  take,  as  C  is  unconsciously  playing 
A's  game,  for  A  wants  the  trumps  out  that  he  may  bring 
in  his  great  spade  suit. 

4. — C  leads  10  h;  B  plays  6;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  4. 

A  passes  for  the  fourth  time;  C  must  have  the  2  h,  and 
he  will  most  surely  lead  it,  for  he  cannot  well  read  A's 
persistent  holding  up. 

5. — C  leads  2  h;  B  discards;  D  plays  9;  A  plays  qu. 

A  now  draws  D's  last  trump  and  makes  his  great  spade 
suit  and  the  ace  of  clubs.  This  is  an  exaggerated  case 
of  holding  up,  but  it  illustrates  the  possibilities  of  the 
game.  D  could  have  countered  on  A's  strategy  in  the 
above  case  by  covering  C's  10  with  king.  D  should  have 
read  A's  play,  for  he  could  give  him  the  ace  of  c  and  the 
ace  of  h.  C  could  not  easily  divine  A's  intent,  but  D 
could;  and  had  he  put  on  the  k  at  trick  four,  A  would 
have  been  forced  to  take;  if  he  had  not,  D  would  have 
gone  on  with  his  diamonds  forcing  A.  A  had  nothing  to 
lose  by  his  play,  and  all  to  gain,  and  D  permitted  it  to  be 
successful.  This  makes  evident  the  fact  that  you  must  be 
on  the  alert  for  this  strategy  and  meet  it  if  in  your 
power.  Here  is  a  simple  case: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


243 


*     * 


B 
C                                  D 
A 

* 
+ 

*  * 
*  * 

* 
* 

*  * 
*  * 

1*1 

A* 

*A* 

A*A 


A     A 
A     A 


i. — C  leads  k;  B  plays  3;  D  plays  5;  A  plays  4. 

Now,  if  C  reads  D  with  the  ace,  and  goes  on  with  2,  A 
gains  a  trick;  if  he  properly  follows  with  kn,  A  does  not 
lose  by  holding  up  the  first  round.  Again:— 


*** 

* 

*** 


*    * 


*     * 


B 


I) 


244 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


leads  qu;  B  plays  5;  D  plays  6;  A  plays  2. 

2. — C  leads  4;  B  plays  8;  D  plays  10;  A  plays  kn. 

A's  underplay  here  leaves  him  with  the  perfect  tenace, 
and  C  continuing  the  suit  gives  A  a  trick. 

Fourth  hand  may  refuse  to  take  the  first  trick  if  he 
suspects  that  his  partner  is  calling.  Take  this  case: — 


** 

*** 

*** 


*** 

* 

*  * 

* 

4.  * 

* 

*  * 
*  *  * 


**** 

* 
**** 


B 


*  * 

* 

* 

*    4- 

D 


*  *  * 

*  *  * 


*  * 


i. — C  leads  2;  B  plays  7;  D  plays  qu;  A  plays  4. 

2. — D  leads  k;  A  plays  ace;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  3. 

A  is  now  in  to  answer  B's  request  for  trumps,  and  a 
great  game  may  result. 

Late  in  hand,  fourth  hand  may  sometimes  hold  up  to 
great  advantage.  If  C,  in  an  ending,  leads  the  kn,  hold- 
kn,  9,  4,  A,  with  qu,  8,  3,  must  refuse  to  take  or  lose  a 
trick. 

You  must  bear  in  mind  that  to  successfully  underplay, 
you  must  have  a  keen  perception  and  a  full  understand- 
ing of  the  situation.  Care  must  be  taken  that  you  do 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  245 

not  carry  such  finesse  to  excess,  for  it  is  the  exception, 
not  the  rule,  for  fourth  hand  to  pass  the  trick.  Most 
players  fourth  hand  take  the  trick  if  they  can  do  so,  and 
never  give  the  situation  a  thought — they  seize  the  instant 
trick;  the  keen  player  is  on  the  alert  and  is  looking  be- 
yond the  present  trick  for  the  one  trick  that  may  be 
gained  by  finesse — for  the  one  trick  commonplace,  rou- 
tine play  will  not  yield.  There  is  more  merit  in  gaining 
a  single  trick — by  well-judged  underplay  or  any  other 
species  of  finesse — that  does  not  by  common  play  belong 
to  the  cards  than  there  is  in  winning  a  thousand  games 
with  master  hands. 


246  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

CHAPTER    VI. 

TRUMPS. 

PERHAPS  the  most  difficult  problems  that  whist  offers 
to  the  player  are  the  management,  of  trumps.  Only  most 
thorough  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  game  will 
enable  a  player  to  make  the  most  of  his  trumps.  Trumps 
are  the  controlling  factors  in  the  game,  and  their  proper 
handling  is  to  every  whist  player,  no  matter  how  profi- 
cient, a  matter  of  profound  mental  concern.  They  are 
the  ordnance — the  heavy  guns — in  the  engagement,  and 
after  you  have  silenced  the  enemy  with  them  you  may 
gather  in  the  fruits  of  victory  with  your  established  suits. 
It  follows  that  it  is  a  waste  of  ammunition  and  poor 
generalship  to  fire  off  your  "  artillery  "  early  in  the  fight, 
unless  you  have  a  specific  purpose  in  view.  The  only 
object  you  should  have  in  disarming  your  opponents — 
partner  as  well, — of  trumps  is  to  make  good  your  long 
suits.  If  you  have  no  master  cards  to  make,  it  is,  as  a 
rule,  better  to  keep  your  batteries  masked  for  the 
middle  or  end  play,  or  until  the  master  cards  have  de- 
clared their  presence  in  partner's  hand.  Familiarity  with 
the  best  play  will  convince  you  that  to  always  lead 
trumps  because  you  happen  to  hold  five  or  six,  or  never 
to  lead  them  when  you  hold  but  two  or  three,  or  even 
one,  is  not  the  best  whist.  With  the  best  players,  trumps 
are  used  only  for  distinct  purposes.  The  object  in  lead- 
ing trumps  must  be  apparent  from  the  hand  or  developed 
by  the  play.  No  inflexible  rules  can  be  formulated  to 
direct  their  proper  management.  The  fine  points  occur- 
ring in  a  hand  at  whist,  cannot  be  provided  for  by  set 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  247 

rules,  but  must  be  met  by  the  ingenuity  and  originality 
of  the  player. 

There  is  no  test  of  skill  so  absolute  as  the  aptitude 
displayed  by  a  player  in  handling  his  trumps.  The 
whist  player  must  select  the  proper  moment  for  a  trump 
lead.  A  trick  too  soon  or  a  round  too  late  may  ruin  a 
great  game.  The  correct  management  of  trumps  is  by 
far  the  most  difficult  thing  in  whist  strategy,  and  few 
players  ever  become  proficient  in  this  regard. 

Five   Trumps. 

"  When  you  have  five  trumps,  it  is  always  right  to  lead 
them."  This  old  rule  for  trump  leading  has  many  excep- 
tions. Always  and  never  are  not  safe  words  to  use 
in  formulating  whist  rules.  When  used  they  should 
be  supposed  to  mean  '''nearly  always"  and  "rarely 
ever."  When  to  lead  trumps,  as  the  original  lead 
of  the  hand  holding  just  five  trumps,  is  at  times 
a  difficult  problem.  It  is  nearly  always  right  to  lead 
trumps  when  the  trump  suit  is  your  only  long  suit,  be- 
cause if  you  are  weak  in  all  the  plain  suits  it  is  only  fair 
to  presume  that  your  partner  is  so  much  the  more  likely 
to  be  strong  in  them.  It  is  rarely  good  play  to  open  a 
suit  of  less  than  four  cards  as  the  original  lead  of  the 
hand.  Suppose  you  hold  any  five  trumps,  three  small  in 
two  suits,  and  two  small  cards  in  the  third  suit — you  must, 
as  a  rule  lead  trumps,  no  matter  what  they  are;  any  other 
lead  will  deceive  your  partner,  and  besides,  as  a  rule, 
you  cannot  put  your  trumps  to  better  use.  Your  chances 
for  making  any  of  your  small  trumps  by  ruffing  are  very 
slight;  you  must  follow  to  three  rounds  in  two  of  the 
plain  suits,  and  you  can  hardly  expect  to  find  partner 
short  in  the  same  suits  that  you  are  short  in.  Such 
hands,  however,  may  be  classed  as  exceptional.  In  the 


248  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

majority  of  cases  you  will  have  at  least  a  four-card  suit 
apart  from  the  trump  suit.  It  may  be  laid  down  as  a 
rule  that  as  the  original  lead  of  the  hand,  the  trump  suit 
must  be  led  if  it  be  the  only  suit  in  the  hand  of  more 
than  three  cards.  Occasionally  your  short  suits  in  such 
hands  may  be  composed  of  cards  which  make  it  expe- 
dient to  depart  from  the  above  rule;  but,  apart  from  this, 
the  rule  holds  good,  and  this  phase  of  the  question  may 
be  dismissed.  This  leaves  open  for  consideration  those 
problematical  hands  in  which  just  five  trumps  are  held, 
and  concerning  which  there  is  a  difference  of  opinion  as 
to  the  advisability  of  a  trump  lead,  as  the  first  lead  of 
all.  The  writer  believes  that  in  many  cases  there  is 
a  better  lead  than  the  trump  lead  for  the  original  lead. 
Suppose,  as  original  leader,  you  hold  five  trumps  (hearts); 
ace  and  four  small,  diamonds;  two  small  clubs;  and  a 
small  spade.  You  should  open  your  fourth-best  d  and 
await  developments.  Again— you  hold  five  trumps 
(hearts);  ace,  k,  kn,  and  small  d;  two  small  each  in  s  and 
c.  You  open  with  k  d  showing  your  suit,  then  a  trump 
if  you  deem  it  best.  It  is  generally  best  with  any  five 
trumps  to  show  your  suit  first,  especially  if  not  longer 
than  five  cards.  Holding  five  fair  trumps  and  one  good 
suit,  sayk,  kn,  10  and  one  small,  and  small  in  the  other 
suits,  it  is  generally  best  to  open  the  plain  suit.  If  part- 
ner has  strength  in  the  suit  he  will  lead  trumps,  even  if 
weak  in  them,  provided  he  has  a  helping  hand  in  the 
other  suits.  If  you  lead  trumps  first,  from  a  hand  as 
cited,  before  you  have  in  a  measure  established  your 
suit,  you  are  likely  to  play  the  opponents'  game.  An 
attempt  to  bring  in  a  long  suit  with  only  a  moderate 
proportion  of  high  cards,  and  holding  only  five  fair 
trumps,  and  no  re-entry  cards  in  the  other  suits,  fails 
oftener  than  it  succeeds.  It  is  almost  sure  to  fail  if  you 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  249 

lead  trumps  before  effecting,  at  least  in  part,  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  long  suit,  and  this  is  especially  true  if 
you  do  not  have  cards  of  re-entry  in  the  other  suits. 

Bringing  in  long  suits  is  very  pretty  work  in  theory, 
but  in  cold  practice — with  two  shrewd  adversaries  on  the 
alert  to  make  their  long  suits — it  fails  as  often  as  it  suc- 
ceeds. A  and  B  must  not  forget  that  C  and  D  have 
their  long  suits,  and  that  in  every  hand  there  are  three 
long  suits,  only  one  of  which  may  be  made.  While  A  B 
are  striving  to  make  their  suit,  C  D  are  equally  as  intent 
at  making  theirs.  The  struggle  is  usually  about  equal, 
and  the  forces  meeting,  the  result  is  a  compromise,  each 
in  turn  throwing  away  the  long  cards.  Long  suits  are 
made  under  two  conditions:  (i)  when  you  have  great 
strength,  and  (2)  when  the  opponents  make  them  for 
you  owing  to  their  futile  attempt  to  make  their  own. 
Rash,  speculative  trump  play,  before  development  of 
suit,  commonly  results  in  disaster.  When  extra  risks  are 
run  to  make  your  suit,  you  are  apt  to  finish  by  finding 
that  the  opponents  have  made  theirs.  It  is  perfectly 
proper  to  make  every  effort  within  the  lines  of  safety  to 
bring  in  your  long  suit,  but  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that 
this  object  is  only  one  feature  of  many  at  Long  Whist. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  with  five  moderate  trumps,  you 
do  not  lead  trumps  first  of  all,  unless  you  have  strength  in 
at  least  two  suits,  or  in  one  with  guards  in  the  others 
against  the  possible  early  establishment  of  them  by  the 
enemy.  Rather  than  "always  lead  trumps  from  five," 
simply  because  you  have  five,  you  would  better  never 
lead  from  five  fair  trumps,  as  the  original  lead  of  the 
hand,  for  it  will  nearly  always  be  best  to  first  show  your 
stiit  or  lead  from  it,  with  the  idea  of  first  establishing  it, 
or  bring  it  to  such  a  point  that  one  round  will  clear  it  up. 
It  is  understood  that  the  cards  composing  your  short 


250  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

suits  have  very  much  to  do  with  the  question  of  leading 
trumps  as  an  original  lead.  As  an  illustration,  suppose 
a  hand  like  this — s  kn,  10,  8,  4,  2  (trumps);  h  k,  10,  8, 
7,  6;  c  ace,  k;  d  ace.  Here  you  would  unhesitatingly 
lead  the  4  of  trumps  as  the  original  lead  of  the  hand  as 
your  re-entry  cards  in  clubs  and  diamonds  will  aid  you  in 
your  effort  to  establish  the  hearts.  But  suppose  in  the 
above  hand  you  have  two  small  clubs  and  a  small  dia- 
mond, it  changes  the  whole  aspect  of  the  hand  and 
weakens  it  so  materially  that  your  chances  of  making  the 
heart  suit  are  very  slim,  and  your  safest  play  is  to  open 
the  hand  with  the  7  of  hearts. 

Let  it  always  be  remembered  that  the  usual  denoue- 
ment of  an  abortive  attempt  to  bring  in  your  long  suit, 
is  that  the  enemy  brings  in  his  !  The  means  you  adopt 
for  bringing  in  your  suit  are  the  very  tactics  your  ad- 
versary would  have  adopted.  Before  you  enter  upon  so 
forward  a  game  as  an  attempt  to  make  your  suit  with 
only  moderate  strength  in  trumps,  you  should  carefully 
consider  the  situation;  the  liability  of  being  forced;  the 
guards  you  hold  in  your  weak  suits,  etc.,  etc.  If  you  do 
succeed  in  getting  out  trumps  and  are  left  with  the  long 
trump,  it  will  be  of  little  use  to  you  unless  you  are  in  the 
lead  at  the  time,  and  your  suit  is  within  one  round  of 
being  cleared  up.  If  your  opponents  are  in  the  lead,  your 
suit  must  be  established;  if  the  suit  is  not  established, 
you  may  be  obliged  to  use  your  last  trump  for  possession 
of  the  lead,  and  if  you  have  no  re-entry  card,  the  oppon- 
ents make  their  suit.  The  making  of  a  long  suit  is  )iot 
the  aim  of  every  hand.  In  the  majority  of  hands  no  long 
suit  is  brought  in,  and  the  victory  goes  with  the  correct 
play  and  finesse  in  all  the  suits.  It  will  not  do  to  attempt 
to  always  make  yoar  long  suit,  nor  to  play  with  that  ob- 
ject in  view.  Unless  you  have  such  strength  as  to  justify 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  251 

you  in  playing  such  a  forward  game,  it  is  much  safer  to 
adopt  more  defensive  tactics.  When  you  come  to  your 
first  lead  after  a  round  or  more  has  been  played,  you  do 
or  do  not  lead  trumps,  as  the  character  of  your  hand 
and  the  fall  warrant.  With  great  strength  in  trumps — 
six  or  more — you  are  nearly  always  in  position  to  have 
them  led  when  you  care  to  bring  them  out,  and  nothing 
is  lost,  if  you  first  judiciously  reconnoitre  the  forces  of 
the  enemy.  While  you  do  not  " invariably"  lead  trump, 
holding  six  or  more,  yet  you  nearly  always  should,  for 
you  are  so  strong  that  you  are  almost  certain  to  be  left 
with  at  least  two  long  trumps,  and  you  can  control  the 
finish. 

Four    Trumps. 

Holding  four  trumps  and  three  cards  each  in  the  plain 
suits,  it  is,  as  a  rule,  best  to  lead  a  trump.  If  your 
partner  is  weak  in  all  the  plain  suits,  you  will  not  make 
many  tricks,  in  any  event.  Partner  will  usually  be  able 
to  read  the  situation,  and  if  he  wins  the  first  trick  he  will 
not  return  your  lead,  unless  it  is  best  for  his  hand  to 
have  trumps  come  out.  As  an  original  lead  you  do  not 
lead  from  four  trumps,  if  you  have  any  other  suit  of  four 
or  more  cards,  unless  you  have  fair  strength  in  all  the 
plain  suits  or  four  very  good  trumps  and  a  great  suit,  and 
are  in  danger  of  being  forced  in  one  of  the  weak  suits. 

For  instance:  ace,  k,  qu  and  small  (trump);  ace,  k,qu, 
kn  and  two  small,  and  small  in  the  other  two  suits.  You 
leak  the  k  of  trumps  and  follow  with  the  qu,  and  if  all 
follow  suit  you  can  safely  go  on  with  the  ace  and  then 
with  your  great  suit,  and,  unless  you  find  five  trumps  in 
one  hand  against  you,  you  will  bring  in  the  long  suit. 
Again  :  Holding  any  four  trumps  and  commanding  cards 


252  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

in  all  the  plain  suits,  you  may  safely  lead  trumps  at 
once,  for  no  suit  can  be  brought  in  against  you,  and  the 
trump  lead  will  protect  your  master  cards  from  being 
trumped  by  the  weak  trump  hand  of  the  enemy.  In 
such  cases  as  this,  you  do  not  lead  trumps  with  the  idea 
of  exhausting  trumps,  as  much  as  a  protection  against 
ruffing. 

Less  than  Four  Trumps. 

In  exceptional  hands  you  may  lead  from  three  or  even 
two  trumps;  and  when  you  do, lead  the  highest.  Partner 
will  read  you  with  command  in  all  the  suits,  and  if  he 
wins  the  trick  he  will  go  on  even  if  weak,  for  he  has  no 
fear  of  the  plain  suits,  knowing  that  you  can  look  after 
them,  as  you  would  never  lead  trumps  from  less  than 
four,  unless  unusually  strong  in  all  the  suits.  But  as  a 
rule,  show  partner  the  suit  you  mean  to  play  for  before 
you  lead  from  less  than  four  trumps.  It  is  in  cases  like 
this  that  you  are  justified  in  leading  the  ace  of  trumps 
single  ;  that  is  the  only  singleton  that  is  ever  led  as  the 
original  lead  of  the  hand.  Your  justification  for  the 
lead  of  the  ace  of  trumps  single  is  that  you  have  com- 
manding cards  in  all  the  plain  suits,  and  leading  the  ace 
and  not  continuing — partner  thus  reads  the  play.  You 
may  lead  any  singleton  in  trump,  especially  if  it  is  one 
that  partner  will  finesse,  like  the  kn,  10,  9,  for  instance, 
after  you  have  shown  him  your  great  suit  or  suits.  To 
illustrate  :  You  hold — s  ace,  k,  qu,  kn  ;  c  ace,  k,  kn,  3  ; 
d  ace,  qu,  kn,  8  and  10  of  hearts  (trump).  Open  with 
your  king  of  clubs,  then  10  of  trumps,  and  partner  will 
play  for  your  hand,  and  no  harm  can  come  from  your 
singleton  lead. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


253 


Keep  Command  of  Trumps. 

In  your  management  of  trumps  do  not  forget  that  it 
makes  a  vast  difference  who  is  in  the  lead  when  the  last 
trump  is  played.  Suppose  you  have  four  trumps — ace,  k, 
4,  3 — if  you  open  with  the  honors,  you  give  up  control; 
but  if  you  open  with  small,  you  give  partner  a  chance  to 
win  the  first  round  for  you  with  a  comparatively  small 
card,  say  knave  or  10.  You  cannot  well  lose  by  such 
play;  you  will  take  but  two  tricks  in  the  suit  if  partner 
has  no  high  card,  and  it  is  much  better  to  keep  control 
and  have  command  at  the  end.  You  cannot  hope  to 
draw  all  the  high  cards  in  two  rounds,  and  then  find 
partner  with  the  long  small  ones.  This  would  be 
exceptional,  and  if  you  play  for  the  exceptional,  you  will 
lose,  except  in  rare  cases. 

Here  is  a  case  in  point: — 


B 


D 


The  4  turned  with  D. 


254  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

i.— A  leads  k;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  5;  D  plays  4. 

2. — A  leads  ace;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  10;  D  plays  8. 

3. — A  leads  2;  C  discards;  B  plays  qu;   D  plays  9. 

A  plays  as  badly  here  as  possible,  and  even  after  find- 
ing B  with  the  qu,  10,  the  opponents  make  a  trick  in 
trumps;  and,  what  may  be  worse  than  all,  A  will  not  be 
in  the  lead  when  the  last  trump  is  played.  D,  if  he  gains 
the  lead,  will  now  draw  A's  last  trump;  and  if  D  has  a 
great  suit  he  makes  it — /'.  £.,  A  made  it  for  him.  If  A,  in 
this  instance,  was  playing  for  a  great  suit,  his  play  might 
cost  him — in  the  event  of  C  D  having  a  great  suit — 
several  tricks.  On  the  other  hand: — 

i. — A  leads  2;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  qu;  D  plays  4. 

2. — B  leads  10;   D  plays  8;  A  plays  k;  C  plays  7. 

A  does  not  finesse  here  against  the  kn.  In  trumps  you 
are  justified  in  finessing  more  deeply  and  more  frequently 
than  in  plain  suits.  But  A  knows  that  B  has  the  5,  and 
he  reads  that  D  should  not  have  the  kn,  9.  A  now  draws 
the  third  round  of  trumps,  and  then  goes  on  with  his 
great  suit,  forcing  D  eventually  to  play  his  last  trump, 
and  A  is  left  with  the  thirteenth  trump  for  re-entry.  The 
student  who  is  observant  will  have  noticed  that  D  is 
made  to  play  badly  at  trick  two,  by  giving  A  the  option 
of  the  finesse.  On  the  return  of  the  10  by  B,  D  holding 
the  fourchette  (and  the  8  also)  should,  of  course,  cover 
the  10. 

Leading   Trumps  for  Benefit  of  Great  Suits. 

It  frequently  occurs  that  you  lead  trumps  from  two 
or  three,  for  the  protection  of  one  or  more  great  suits 
developed  by  the  play.  Your  partner  can  nearly  always 
divine  that  your  trump  lead  is  the  highest  of  three — 
possibly  the  higher  of  two — and  in  such  cases  may  be 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


255 


justified  in  very  deep  finesse.  You  must  not  jump-atthe 
conclusion  that  he,  too,  is  weak,  if  he  passes  your  lead 
or  finesses  deeply,  and  on  this  account  discontinue  the 
trump  lead,  if  you  get  in  again.  Take  this  case: 


*** 

*~* 

*** 
*** 


B 


*  * 

*  * 

*** 
*** 

*  * 

*  * 

*  * 

D 


v 

I*  *  * 


* 


*  * 


The  10  turned  with  B. 

i. — A  leads  9;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  3;  D  plays  5.  (C 
should  have  played  kn.) 

B  passes  the  9  and  would  not  play  well  if  he  did  not. 
He  knows  that  A  has  led  his  best  trump,  and  although 
both  k,  kn  are  against,  the  chances  are  all  in  favor  of 
passing.  As  the  cards  lie,  C  D  cannot  take  a  trick  in  the 


256 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


suit.     Had  C  put  on  kn,  B  would   have  played  qu  and 
would  not  have  returned  the  suit.     Or  again: — 


*    •!• 


B 


D 


*  *  *  * 

*     * 

**** 


**** 
***** 


.-* 
:*: 


i. — A  leads  8;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  3;  D  plays  9. 

Here  the  finesse  is  against  four  cards,  but  B  would  not 
play  well  to  put  up  either  ace  or  kn,  unless  he  wishes  to 
force  two  rounds  at  once. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  4;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  7;  D 
plays  10. 

The  trumps  lie  as  disadvantageously  as  possible  for  B, 
but  there  is  no  help  for  it;  he  must  keep  control  of  the 
suit,  and  at  best  he  could  take  but  one  trick  if  he  puts 
up  the  ace  first  round.  B  reads  A's  8  as  the  better  of  two, 
possibly  the  highest  of  three,  and  when  A  leads  the  4,  B 
knows  that  seven  trumps  were  originally  against  them, 
and  that  four  (at  least)  must  be  in  one  hand.  If  he  parts 
with  control  the  result  must  be  disastrous — nothing  could 
be  worse.  As: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


257 


i.. — A  leads  8;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  ace,  D  plays  9. 

If  B  continues  the  lead  the  wreck  is  complete,  and  if 
he  does  not,  C  will,  if  he  gets  in,  lead  through  B,  and  B 
has  not  another  trick  in  the  suit.  C  can  read  that  A's 
lead  of  the  8  is  from  the  head  of  two  or  three.  The  fall 
shows  that  A  has  not  the  ace,  k  or  9,  consequently  the 
.8  cannot  be  a  fourth-best.  In  such  situations  as  the  one 
last  illustrated,  finesse  deeply  and  kept  control  as  long 
as  possible.  If  the  cards  lie  fortunately  you  may  gain 
the  single  trick  that  gives  you  the  odd  card.  This  for 
example: — 


*  *  * 

*  *  * 


*** 
*** 


*  * 

+  +  * 
*** 

*  * 


B 


V 

*'* 


J*.., 


D 


4.  * 

* 

* 

*  * 

_*_ 

i. — A  leads  8;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  k. 

Here  the  finesse  is  a  clear  gain  of  a  trick.  B  reasons 
that  the  8  must  force  an  honor  or  win  the  trick,  and  that 
if  he  puts  up  the  ace  he  can  take  but  the  single  trick, 
besides  the  control  of  the  trumps  is  at  once  with  the  op- 


258  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

ponents,  and  nothing  could  be  worse.  B  makes  no  at- 
tempt to  echo  here,  as  in  such  situations  a  trick  may  be 
lost  by  the  attempt.  (See  Echo.) 

finesse   in   Trumps. 

From  the  foregoing  examples  it  will  be  seen  that  at 
times  finesse  in  trumps  should  be  deep,  and  that  you  do 
not  give  up  control.  When  partner  leads  trumps  origin- 
ally, showing  only  four,  it  is  often  right  to  finesse  against 
one  card,  and  sometimes  you  may  finesse  against  two. 
The  state  of  the  score  and  the  character  of  your  hand 
has  much  to  do  with  it.  If  you  have  a  hand  that  is 
good  to  be  led  up  to,  it  is  usually  advantageous  to 
finesse,  for  if  your  finesse  fails  you  must  then  be  last 
player  to  the  next  trick.  If  you  have  fair  strength  in  all 
the  plain  suits,  and  partner's  lead  shows  four  only, 
you  may  be  pretty  sure  that  this  is  his  only  four-card 
suit,  and  you  should  finesse  deeply  if  your  hand  justifies 
it.  To  the  lead  of  the  deuce  or  any  small  card  that 
enables  you  to  read  that  partner  has  led  trumps  from 
four  cards  only,  you  holding  any  of  the  following — ace, 
kn,  10  and  small ;  ace,  kn  and  two  small;  k,  kn  and  one 
or  more  ;  k,  10,  9  and  small ;  k,  10  and  two  small  ;  qu, 
10,  9  and  small,  or  qu,  10  and  two  small,  it  is  judicious 
to  sometimes  finesse  the  kn,  10  or  9,  as  the  case  may  be. 
If  a  medium  low  card  is  led,  say  the  5  or  6,  you  must  be 
more  careful  how  you  finesse,  for  partner  may  have  a 
great  suit  and  five  or  more  trumps.  You  can  judge  of 
his  hand  in  a  great  many  ways  by  your  own  ;  if  you  have, 
for  instance,  the  king  of  each  plain  suit,  you  know  that 
he  has  no  suit  established  from  the  start.  So  much  de- 
pends upon  the  character  of  your  hand  and  the  rank  of 
the  card  led,  that  it  is  difficult  to  give  instructions  in 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  259 

finesse  without  this  data.  If  your  partner  has  first 
shown  his  great  suit  and  then  leads  trumps  from  prob- 
able fair  strength  in  them,  there  is  less  room  for  finesse. 
Partner  may  be  anxious  to  have  two  or  three  rounds 
come  out  at  once,  especially  if  your  left  hand  opponent 
is  marked  with  more  of  partner's  great  suit,  and  your 
right  hand  adversary  probably  short  of  the  suit.  In  this 
case,  if  your  finesse  fails,  your  enemy  may  lead  your 
partner's  great  suit,  and  it  may  be  trumped.  On  the 
other  hand,  if  it  is  C  that  is  long,  and  D  void  of  partner's 
great  suit,  the  danger  just  referred  to  is  absent,  and  you 
can  finesse  with  more  justification.  This  is  especially  so 
if  you  feel  sure  of  being  able  to  take  the  next  trick  led 
by  D,  in  case  your  finesse  goes  to  him,  as  in  this  event 
you  can  then  lead  him  the  card  you  held  up  as  a  strength- 
ening card — if  you  deem  it  best.  Such  conditions  as 
these  and  hundreds  of  others  enter  into  the  matter  of 
finesse  in  trumps,  and  either  modify  it  or  render  finessing 
out  of  the  question.  If  partner  leads  trumps  for  the 
evident  intent  of  checking  a  ruff  or  see-saw,  you  do  not, 
as  a  rule,  risk  even  the  major  tenace  finesse,  but  put  up 
your  best  with  the  idea  of  forcing  two  rounds  at  once. 

Be  on    the  Alert   to   Lead    Trumps    when    the  Situation 
Warrants  it. 

The  best  players  do  not  make  use  of  the  arbitrary  call 
for  trumps  except  in  rare  cases  (see  Call),  and  you  must 
be  on  the  alert  to  lead  trumps  when  the  situation  demands 
it.  A  trick  too  soon,  or  a  round  too  late,  may  utterly 
ruin  a  great  game.  You  may  have  a  hand  that  does  not 
demand  a  trump  lead,  and  yet  the  first  card  your  partner 
plays  or  leads  may  make  it  imperative  that  you  lead  a 
trump  at  once.  Suppose  you  hold: — h  ace,  5,  4,  3 


260  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

(trumps);  s  ace,  k,  qu,  6;  d  k,  10,  9;  c  ace,  9.  Partner 
leads  the  kn  of  clubs;  you  play  your  ace  upon  his  knave, 
lead  the  king  of  spades  to  show  your  suit  and  then  the  3 
of  trumps.  Had  your  partner  led  the  deuce  of  c,  it 
would  have  made  a  big  difference  in  your  game,  but  the 
moment  you  saw  partner  had  a  great  club  suit,  you  must 
lead  trumps  at  once.  Again: — Suppose  your  left-hand 
opponent  opens  the  hand  with  the  ace  of  plain  suit,  your 
partner  throws  king;  with  any  four  trumps  you  should 
lead  trumps  at  your  first  opportunity.  Partner  playing 
the  king  shows  that  he  has  only  three  suits  with  twelve 
cards  in  his  hand;  these  suits  must  be  numerically  strong 
at  least,  and  one  of  them  is  the  trump  suit.  Such  a  hand 
demands  a  trump  in  nearly  every  instance.  Once  more: 
— B  deals  and  turns  the  3  s;  D  opens  the  hand  with  the 
3  h;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  7.  A's  hand  is — s 
kn,  10;  h  ace,  qu,  9,  8;  c  ace,  qu;  d  10,  9,  8,  7,  3.  A 
should  now  lead  the  kn  of  spades,  although  he  holds  but 
the  kn  and  10.  It  may  result  in  a  great  game,  and  the 
distribution  of  the  cards  must  be  very  unusual  if  harm 
comes  from  it.  D  shows  but  four  hearts,  probably  k  or 
kn  at  the  head,  and  there  is  not  a  trick  for  him  in  the 
suit — most  likely.  If  D's  best  suit  is  hearts,  and  it  is 
presumed  that  it  is,  his  hand  is  marked  as  weak.  The  fall 
of  the  two  of  h  from  C  proclaims  his  hand  as  probably  nu- 
merically strong  in  the  other  suits — it  is  true — but  A  will 
be  leading  through  this  hand  up  to  the  weak.  B  will 
read  A's  play  of  the  kn  and  will,  of  course,  pass,  know- 
ing that  A  is  playing  for  the  heart  suit.  If  the  kn  wins 
A  follows  with  the  10  s,  which,  if  C  does  not  cover,  B 
will  also  pass.  For  A  to  have  opened  clubs  or  returned 
the  heart  suit  would  have  been  out  of  the  question  ;  A 
might,  it  is  true,  play  the  more  conservative  game,  and 
open  the  7  d,  but  the  game  is  worth  the  risk  of  a  trump 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  261 

lead.  In  such  a  case  as  this,  when  you  have  the  com- 
mand of  a  suit,  you  should  generally  lead  trumps  to  pro- 
tect it,  even  if  weak  in  trumps.  Take  this  case  : — A 
deals  and  turns  4  s;  C  opens  with  the  qu  d  ;  B  plays  kn 
d;  D  plays  3  d;  A  wins  with  the  ace.  A  holds: — s  10,  9, 
4;  h  ace,  qu,  6,  3;  c  k,  10,  9;  d  ace,  10,  9.  A  should 
lead  the  10  of  trumps — the  situation  demands  it.  If  B 
is  not  calling,  he  has  but  three  suits  in  his  hand,  one  of 
which  is  the  trump  suit.  If  B  is  weak  in  trumps  then  he 
is  unusually  strong  in  hearts  and  clubs.  A's  hand  and 
the  fall  justifies  him  in  giving  B  long  trumps.  If,  as  be- 
fore stated,  B  is  short  in  trumps  then  the  opponents  must 
be  long,  and  if  A  does  not  lead  them  C  or  D  will,  and 
while  it  is  possible  to  arrange  the  cards  so  that  a  trump 
lead  by  A  will  lose,  as  against  the  lead  of  the  heart,  yet 
the  chances  are  all  in  favor  of  the  forward  game.  Here 
is  another  instance  demonstrating  the  propriety  of  a 
trump  lead,  the  necessity  of  which  is  made  evident  by  a 
single  round: — The  9  d  turned  by  D;  A  leads  qu  c,  from 
ace,  k,  qu,  10,  9  ;  s  ace,  kn,  TO,  5,  4,  2  ;  d  10,  8,  and  no 
hearts — C  plays  3  c  ;  B  plays  8  c;  D  plays  kn  c.  The 
fall  shows  A  that  B  has  no  more  clubs  or  is  calling.  The 
inference  is  that  B  is  long  in  trumps  and  hearts.  It  is 
highly  improbable  that  B  is  long  in  spades — A  hav- 
ing six.  A  has  the  ace,  kn,  10  of  spades  as  re-entry 
cards,  and  the  situation  demands  that  A  should  lead  the 
TO  d.  B  is  almost  sure  to  read  the  play  and  will  pass  the 
10,  if  he  is  not  strong  enough  to  take.  For  further  ex- 
amples illustrating  this  principle  see  "The  Call." 

Late  Trump  Leads. 

When  partner  leads  trumps  in  the  middle  hand,  such  a 
lead  usually  implies  that  he  sees  a  fair  opportunity  to 


262  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

make  master  cards  in  his  hand  or  marked  in  yours,  or  he 
hopes  to  bring  in  the  long  cards  of  the  suit.  You  will 
generally  do  better  to  husband  your  strength  in  trumps 
by  fair  finesse,  for  you  run  great  risk  of  giving  up  con- 
trol if  the  trumps  are  evenly  matched.  These  late  leads 
of,  or  signals  for,  trumps  do  not  carry  with  them  so 
peremptory  a  command  as  those  made  early  in  the  hand, 
and  you  are  more  at  liberty  to  use  your  own  judgment 
and  discretion.  Late  in  hand  partner  says  to  you,  by 
such  a  lead  or  ask:  "  I  think  best  to  feel  the  enemy  in 
the  trump  suit,  as  we  have  some  master  cards  to  protect, 
but  husband  your  strength,  if  you  think  best." 

You  are  expected  to  return  partner's  early  lead  of 
trumps,  usually,  in  preference  to  every  other  play.  To 
be  sure,  you  may  first  show  him  your  great  suit.  The 
exceptions  to  this  rule  are:  (i)  When  partner  has  led 
trumps  from  four,  simply  because  it  was  his  only  four- 
card  suit;  (2)  when  you  win  the  trick  cheaply,  and  it  is 
demonstrable  that  your  right-hand  opponent  must  hold 
over  your  partner  with  a  strong  tenace,  (3)  when  an 
honor  is  up  to  your  right,  and  you  win  by  deep  finesse; 
(4)  when  partner  has  led  from  evident  weakness  and 
finds  you  weak.  There  may  be  other  conditions  under 
which  you  would  be  justified  in  not  returning  your 
partner's  lead  of  trumps,  but  these  are  the  chief  ones 

Show  Partner   Your  Suit. 

If  partner  calls,  and  if,  at  the  time  you  get  in,  you 
have  not  shown  partner  your  suit,  do  so;  also,  if  partner 
leads  trumps,  and  you  win  the  first  round,  you  may, 
before  you  return  the  lead,  show  him  your  suit.  To  do 
this  you  must,  of  course,  lead  a  winning  card  in  it,  and 
you  must  take  care  that  it  is  not  so  long  that  it  is  likely 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


263 


to  be  trumped  the  first  round,  or  draw  the  only  card 
partner  has  of  the  suit.  This  last  feature — the  proba- 
bility of  drawing  partner's  only  card — is  to  be  especially 
avoided,  if  you  have  no  re-entry  card,  The  play  is 
often  of  great  benefit  to  partner.  Suppose  that  the 
remainder  of  strength  in  trumps  is  with  your  left  hand 
adversary,  partner  winning  the  first  round  cheaply,  he 
will  not  return  the  lead,  but  will  give  you  your  suit,  that 
you  may  again  lead  through  the  opponent.  The  follow- 
ing is  an  illustration: — 


*** 

*  * 

*  * 

+  * 

*  * 

L*!* 

*_Jl 

*  * 

00 

O     0 

0 

O     O 

0.    0 

0     O 

Knave  c  turned. 


264  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

It  matters  not  about  the  hearts  and  spades  ;  B  is  in, 
and  A  has  called,  B  first  leads  the  k  d,  showing  ace  and 
two  more,  and  then  answers  the  call  with  10  c;  A  takes 
with  qu;  knave  falling  from  C.  A  knows  that  B  has 
led  the  highest  card  he  has,  and  can  have,  at  most, 
but  two  more — thus  marking  k  and  at  least  two  more 
with  D.  It  would  be  very  bad  whist  for  A  to  go  on  with 
clubs — D  must  be  led  through,  A  therefore  gives  B  his 
suit ;  B  takes  with  qu,  showing  ace,  and  leads  the  9  c 
through  D.  If  D  now  covers  in  the  hope  of  making  his 
minor  tenace,  A  takes  with  ace,  and  again  leads  a  d 
which  B  takes  and  once  more  leads  through  D,  and  A  B 
make  every  trick  in  trumps,  although  D  had  k  and  three 
others.  Had  B  not  shown  A  his  suit  A  might  have 
selected  hearts  or  spades,  as  the  suit  to  let  B  in  on,  to 
the  loss  of  several  tricks. 

It  is  often  shown  by  the  play  that  one  of  the  opponents 
is  left  with  a  trump  after  the  second  round,  and  it  is 
sometimes  best  not  to  draw  it  even  if  a  losing  trump,  and 
it  is  rarely  good  to  lead  a  third  round  of  trumps  to  draw 
it  if  a  master  card,  as  you  are  drawing  two  for  one.  The 
adverse  trump,  in  this  event,  must  make,  and  better  let 
it  make  as  the  opponent  cares  to  have  it  make,  or  lead  a 
card  to  *'  force  "  its  play.  Examples  will  render  this 
clear: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


*   * 

*.* 

*    * 

*&* 

4-** 

4* 

* 

4.    4> 

4.    4. 

4.    4. 

B 


*  * 
4,  4. 


D 


4.  4, 


4.  4. 


i. — A  leads  4;  C  plays  kn;  B  plays  5;  D  plays  8. 

2  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  9;  D  plays  k;  A  plays  ace  ;  C 
plays  3. 

The  fall  shows  that  C  has  the  qu,  B  the  7.  A  should 
not  go  on  with  another  round,  for  the  qu  must  make.  If 
A  can  lead  a  card  that  B  can  trump,  or  one  that  will  force 
C,  it  is  the  better  play.  An  exception  might  be — A  with 
tenaces  in  the  other  suits  and  desirous  of  placing  the 


266 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


lead  with  C.     Here  is  a  case  in  which  it  is  best  not  to 
draw  the  trump  even  though  a  losing  one : — 


oooo 

o  o 

oooo 


£>£>&• 
O    £>    D- 


o  li/iiiljll 


B 


D 


oooo 
o 
oooo 


V 

0     0 
0°0 


0    O 

0 
0    O 


Hearts  trumps. 

Trumps  were  led  late  in  hand  for  the  protection  of  B's 
spades.  The  previous  play  revealed  the  fact  that  C  has 
the  7,  B  the  9  of  trumps;  A  is  in,  and  if  he  draws  C's 
losing  trump  he  does  not  take  another  trick.  A  should 
lead  a  d,  and  trust  to  making  the  trumps  separately. 
These  situations  are  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  care 
must  be  taken  or  loss  will  follow. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  267 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE    CALL. 

SIGNALING  is  a  term  usually  applied  only  to  a  deliber- 
ate request  for  trumps.  Whist  abounds  in  signals,  and 
each  card  that  falls,  from  the  first  to  the  last,  is  to  some 
extent  a  signal.  There  is  a  silent  but  incessant  conver- 
sation between  players  who  are  familiar  with  the  lan- 
guage of  cards. 

The  simple  call  for  trumps  is  given  by  the  play  of  an 
unnecessarily  high  card  and  then  a  lower  one.  For  in- 
stance, you  play  the  4  to  ace  led,  and  to  the  king,  the  3; 
you  reverse  the  usual  order  of  play.  It  is  a  recognized 
convention  of  the  game  that  you  have  commanded 
partner  to  lead  you  a  trump  at  the  first  opportunity. 
When  you  do  this — when  you  ask  partner  to  play  your 
game — you  should  be  reasonably  certain  of  making  the 
odd  trick  at  least.  The  mere  fact  of  holding  four,  five 
or  even  six  trumps  is  not  sufficient  reason  for  issuing 
such  an  arbitrary  command.  Your  only  object  in  draw- 
ing trumps  is  to  enable  you  to  bring  in  a  long  suit,  or  to 
protect  master  cards  in  other  suits,  and  without  these 
features  of  strength  you  should  not  call,  even  though  you 
may  be  strong  in  trumps.  Of  course,  if  the  fall  of  the 
cards  or  partner's  play  develops  a  strong  suit  in  his 
hand,  this  changes  matters,  for  you  play  both  hands  as 
one,  and  you  will  ask  for  or  lead  trumps  just  as  promptly 
to  make  your  partner's  suit  as  your  own. 


268  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Fine  players  rarely  make  use  of  this  signal  in  its  sim- 
plest form.  Players  with  good  whist  perception  will  gen- 
erally see  the  necessity  for  a  trump  lead,  without  waiting 
for  this  common  device  of  the  novice. 

There  are  many  ways  of  informing  an  astute  partner 
that  you  desire  a  trump  led.  If  you  pass  a  doubtful 
card,  it  indicates  you  hold  four  trumps,  or  three  strong 
ones  that  you  think  had  best  not  be  broken.  If  you  re- 
fuse to  be  forced  by  partner,  or  pass  a  sure  winning  card, 
it  is  a  positive  call  for  trumps.  The  very  best  trump 
signal  is  made  by  a  single  discard.  Suppose  A,  for  ex- 
ample, leads  the  ace,  B  plays  the  4,  A  follows  with  the  k, 
B  discards  an  8  or  any  high  card  from  the  8  to  the  ace 
inclusive  (A  being  the  original  leader  of  the  hand),  B 
must  want  trumps  led.  It  can  hardly  be  otherwise,  for 
if  B  has  no  card  smaller  than  an  8  to  throw  away,  and 
having  but  three  suits  in  hand,  these  are  obviously  of 
commanding  strength,  and  also  numerically  strong,  one 
of  these  is  the  trump  suit,  and  a  trump  led  to  such  a 
hand  must  nearly  always  be  advantageous. 

The  effectiveness  of  this  trump  signal  lies  in  the  fact 
that  it  is  made  by  the  play  of  a  single  card,  and  if  partner 
is  in  at  the  time,  the  call  is  answered  at  once  without 
giving  the  opponents  an  opportunity  of  taking  advantage 
of  the  information  in  any  way.  If  the  card  so  thrown  is 
of  a  suit  already  opened,  it  may  then  be  for  a  definite 
purpose  other  than  a  call  for  trumps,  and  must  be  con- 
sidered subject  to  the  previous  play  of  that  suit.  This 
single-card  call  by  discard  is  particularly  forcible  if  made 
early  in  the  play  of  the  hand.  If  made  late  in  the  hand 
it  is  subject  to  certain  modifications  made  evident  by 
the  previous  play.  It  may  be  laid  down  as  a  rule 
that,  when  a  player  discards  an  8  or  higher  card — of  a 
suit  not  yet  in  play, — he  desires  trumps  led,  and  if  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  269 

partner  cannot  trace  the  object  of  this  discard  to  some 
other  definite  purpose — made  evident  by  the  previous 
play — he  should  read  it  as  a  demand  upon  him  to  lead 
trumps. 

The  best  players  do  not  find  it  necessary  to  use  the 
simple  call  except  in  rare  cases,  but  they  trump  signal 
and  read  partner's  desire  for  trumps  in  many  ways.  The 
necessity  for  a  lead  of  trumps  is  often  made  evident  by 
the  play  of  a  single  card — it  may  be  by  the  very  first  card 
partner  plays.  When  partner  throws  an  unusually  high 
card  the  first  round,  the  situation  merits  due  considera- 
tion. Suppose  A  leads  the  qu  from  the  ace,  k,  qu  and 
three  others;  C  plays  small;  B  throws  the  kn;  D  small; 
B  can  have  no  more  of  the  suit  or  calling.  If  he  has  no 
more  of  the  suit  his  other  suits  must  be  strong — numer- 
ically at  least, — and  A  should  seriously  consider  a  trump 
lead  if  he  has  a  fair  helping  hand.  Examine  the  situa- 
tion: If  B  is  not  calling  he  then  has  but  three  suits  and 
twelve  cards;  this  means  that  he  has  at  least  two  suits  of 
four  or  more  cards,  or  he  has  one  of  six  or  more.  A 
fair  presumption  would  be  that  he  has  t\vo  suits  of  at 
least  four;  or  say  a  suit  of  five,  one  of  four  and  a  three- 
card  suit;  one  of  these  suits  is  the  trump  suit;  if  he  has 
less  than  three  trumps,  then  he  must  have  two  great  suits 
— numerically  at  least.  His  hand  would  be  very  excep- 
tionally constituted  if  a  strengthening  trump  led  by  A 
did  not  benefit  him.  Again:  Suppose  C  opens  the  hand 
with  k  ;  B  plays  TO;  D  plays  small;  A,  holding  ace,  kn, 
9  and  small  of  the  suit,  should  take  the  k,  and  lead 
trumps  if  he  has  even  a  fair  helping  hand.  The  cheapest 
kind  of  whist  that  A  could  play  would  be  to  force  B,  for 
he  must  want  trumps  led — almost  to  a  certainty.  If  B  is 
not  calling,  then  he  must  have  numerical  strengtli  in  the 
other  suits,  one  of  which  is  the  trump  suit.  A  has  noth- 


270  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST 

ing  to  fear  from  C's  suit,  for  at  best  C  can  make  but  two 
tricks  in  it.  If  A  has  only  three  trumps,  or  even  two,  and 
leads  the  highest,  B  will  read  that  A  is  playing  for  his 
hand,  and  if  B  is  but  moderately  strong  in  trumps  he  will 
finesse  deeply  or  pass.  In  the  event  of  B  holding  only 
two  or  three  trumps,  he  must  then  have  the  other  suits 
well  in  hand,  and  A  must  bear  in  mind  that  if  B,  too,  is 
short  in  trumps  that  they  together  must  have  the  numer- 
ical strength  in  the  other  two  suits,  and  if  these  suits  are 
opened,  the  opponent  who  is  weak  in  trumps  will  trump, 
and  the  stronger  discard;  besides  if  A  and  B  are  both 
weak  in  trumps  they  must  then  be  long  in  the  other  plain 
suits,  and  their  chances  of  making  their  short  trumps  by 
ruffing  are  practically  nil.  The  lead  of  trumps  by  A  will 
protect  their  plain  suits,  and  if  it  turns  out  that  B  is  weak 
in  trumps,  little,  if  any,  harm  is  done,  for  in  this  event  no 
play  will  make  many  tricks.  Suppose,  again,  that  A  opens 
the  hand  with  the  kn  from  k,  qu,  kn  and  two  or  more, 
and  that  B  plays  a  high  card — say  the  10  or  9 — D  win- 
ning with  the  ace;  when  A  gets  in  again  he  should  lead 
trumps,  if  he  has  any  strength  at  all  in  trumps.  B's 
hand  demands  it.  B  cannot  be  unblocking  for  the  10  or 
9  must  be  his  best  or  second-best  card.  If  A  goes  on 
with  his  commanding  suit  it  may  be  trumped,  and  a 
great  game  ruined.  The  point  is  that  if  partner  throws, 
in  the  first  few  rounds  of  a  hand,  a  high  card  that  dem- 
onstrates that  he  is  either  calling  or  has  but  three  suits 
left  in  his  hand,  you  should  consider  well  the  propriety 
of  a  trump  lead  at  once,  if  you  get  in.  It  matters  not 
whether  the  card  thrown  is  to  your  lead  or  that  of  an 
opponent;  the  play  is  indicative  of  strength  and  usually 
demands  a  trump  lead.  Players  who  only  lead  from 
strength  in  trumps,  and  who  always  lead  when  they  are 
strong  in  them,  are  not  strong  players.  The  best 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  271 

players  do  not  need  the  trite  signal,  neither  do  they 
wait  for  it  to  lead  tramps  for  the  benefit  of  partner's 
hand. 

You  should  be  careful  about  calling  while  the  oppo- 
nents are  in  the  lead;  they  will  see  your  signal  as  well  as 
partner,  and  they  may  play  for  a  ruff,  or  a  cross-ruff,  and 
in  every  way  endeavor  to  take  advantage  of  the  informa- 
tion you  have  published.  If  you  have  a  likely  chance  of 
getting  in  yourself,  it  is  often  better  to  not  expose  your 
strength  until  you  are  in  a  position  to  make  it  effective. 
It  may  sometimes  happen  that  you  start  a  signal  for 
trumps  to  opponent's  lead,  and,  from  the  fall  of  the 
cards,  you  may  be  satisfied  that  it  would  be  dangerous 
to  complete  it;  in  such  cases  you  should  abandon  it. 
For  example:  A  leads  k;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  qu;  D  plays 
3.  A  follows  with  the  ace — C  started  to  call  in  the  first 
round,  holding  6,  5,  4,  2 — but  it  would  be  very  imprudent 
to  complete  it,  owing  to  the  information  C  has  received 
from  the  fall  of  the  cards;  A  showed  four  cards  only,  by 
the  lead  of  the  king  ;  B  has  no  more  or  calling  ;  this 
marks  three  more  in  D's  hand,  and  if  C  completes  the 
call,  it  gives  A  the  option  of  going  on  with  a  small  one, 
to  give  B  the  opportunity  of  making  a  small  trump;  if  C 
does  not  expose  his  strength,  A,  if  weak  in  trumps,  would 
not  force  B. 

You  may  refuse  to  answer  the  call,  especially  if  made 
late  in  hand,  if  your  right-hand  opponent  also  completes 
a  call  at  the  same  time,  or  by  his  play  shows  strength  in 
trumps;  as  in  this  event  you  would  be  leading  up  to  the 
calling  hand.  If,  however,  it  is  your  left-hand  adversary 
who  has  also  called,  you,  of  course,  lead  your  best  trump 
through  him,  as  the  position  is  in  your  favor  and  the 
reverse  of  the  former. 

You  may  request  partner  to  go  on  with  trumps,  even  if 


272 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


the  opponents  have  first  called  or  led  them.     Suppose 
this  case: — 


B  has  the  7  turned. 

i. — D  leads  4;  A  plays  2;  C  plays  9;  B  plays  10. 

It  is  evident  that  a  trump  through  D  will  be  advan- 
tageous to  A,  and  if  B  does  not  take  the  hint,  A  may  re- 
quest him  to  play  his  last  trump.  Suppose  that  B  now 
opens  his  suit,  leading  ace  then  king — A  playing  the  5 
then  4,  he  requests  B  to  lead  a  trump  through  D. 

You  can  likewise  ask  partner  to  go  on  with  trumps — 
he  having  abandoned  his  effort  to  get  them  out.  You 
may  have  but  three  trumps,  consequently  you  do  not 
echo  (see  Echo  and  Sub-echo);  but  the  fall  may  develop 
the  fact  that  it  is  to  your  advantage  that  partner  goes  on 
with  trumps,  you  having  great  strength  in  the  other  suits, 
and  you  may  ask  him  to  persist  in  trumps.  You  may 
also  repeat  your  request  for  trumps.  For  example : 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


273 


You  ask  for  trumps,  your  partner  responds  but  does  not 
echo.  He  subsequently  sub-echoes  that  he  has  one  more 
trump;  you  want  him  to  lead  it  if  he  gets  in.  Partner 
may  be  in  doubt  as  to  the  advisability  of  leading  his 
last  trump,  and  you  may  make  sure  of  it  by  repeating 
your  request.  Take  this  case: — 


*  * 

* 

* 

*** 
*** 

*  * 

* 

B 


D 


** 

*** 
*** 


*  * 

*  * 

*  * 


*     * 


*     * 


B  has  the  ace  turned;  A  called  and — 

i. — B  leads  ace;  D  plays  3;  A  plays  4;  C  plays  5. 

2 — B  leads  9;  D  plays  k;  A  plays  6;  C  plays  8. 

A  knows  that  B  has  the  deuce  and  that  the  kn,  7  are 
probably  both  with  D — they  cannot  both  be  with  C. 
Suppose  that  D  now  leads  k  then  ace  of  a  plain  suit.  A 
playing  trey,  then  deuce,  A  requests  B  to  give  him  his 
last  trump  if  he  gets  in. 

The  fall  may  be  such  that  B  may  read  that  the  oppo- 
nents are  out,  or  that  the  chances  are  that  they  have  no 
more  trumps,  yet  A  may  know  that  a  trump  is  yet  with 


274 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


the  opponents.     In  such  cases  A  may  repeat  the  request 
— asking  for  another  round. 

There  are  good  reasons  why  trump-signaling  in  its 
simplest  form  is  not  as  much  respected  as  it  formerly 
was.  One  objection  is  that  it  often  interferes  with  good 
second  and  third-hand  play.  Players  are  frequently  de- 
terred from  making  the  best  play  from  the  danger  of 
partner  mistaking  the  play  for  a  call.  Holding  two 
cards  of  a  suit  second  hand,  one  above  and  the  other 
below  the  one  led,  it  is  usually  the  better  play  to  cover; 
for  example  :  A  leads  8  ;  C  holds  the  9,  6,  the  9  is  the 
better  card  to  play,  it  may  win  the  trick  and  save  a  high 
card  for  D.  Suppose  the  following: — 


*** 

*  * 
*  * 

*  * 
*  * 

* 

* 
* 

*  *•* 
*  *' 


**** 
*    * 

*  *  *  * 


B 


D 


*  * 

*** 
*** 

*  * 


*** 

V 

*** 


A  leads  8;  C  plays  10;  B  plays  3;  D  plays  2. 
Here  the  10  saves  the  play  of  king  and  C  D  have  three 
tricks  in  the  suit.     The  only  help  C  can  give  D  in  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  275 

suit  is  lost  by  not  putting  up  the  10  first  round.  While 
this  play  may  at  times  subject  your  partner  to  adverse 
finessing  on  the  part  of  the  leader,  yet  in  the  long  run 
more  tricks  are  lost  by  not  covering  than  there  are 
gained  by  the  attempt  to  keep  the  leader  in  doubt  as  to 
your  poverty  in  the  suit.  You  may  be  sure,  if  the  leader 
is  a  good  player,  that  he  will  usually  finesse  on  the  re- 
turn, if  the  situation  demands  it,  no  matter  how  you 
play  your  two  cards  second  hand.  This  is  particularly 
true  when  your  highest  card  is  below  the  ten,  for  the 
play  of  a  7,  8  or  9  second  hand  does  not  expose  your 
poverty  in  the  suit,  like  the  play  of  qu  or  kn.  The 
authorities  emphasize  the  fact  that  the  card  played  must 
be  unnecessarily  high  to  constitute  a  call.  There  are 
more  tricks  lost  by  second  hand  not  covering  in  such 
cases — for  fear  of  partner  mistaking  the  play  for  a  call — 
than  there  are  made  through  the  use  of  this  signal 
second  hand.  At  best  trump  signaling  second  hand — in 
the  early  stages  of  the  hand  especially—is  not  good. 
More  loss  usually  results  from  it  than  gain,  and  this  is 
particularly  true  if  you  signal  to  a  high  card  that  will 
probably  hold  the  trick  and  keep  the  leader  in  possession 
of  the  lead,  for  you  post  your  adversaries  while  they 
have  command  of  the  play.  Your  partner  may  not  have 
a  better  chance  of  getting  in  than  you  have,  and  your 
opponents  will  make  use  of  every  resource  at  their  com- 
mand to  profit  by  your  acknowledgment  of  strength  in 
trumps.  Beginners,  and  even  players  of  some  experience, 
are  prone  to  use  the  trite  signal  for  trumps  without 
proper  justification,  and  invariably  call  if  they  happen  to 
hold  four  or  more  trumps.  Their  attention  is  almost 
wholly  occupied  with  this  one  conventionality.  In  theit 
effort  to  get  this  signal  off,  and  at  the  same  time  not  fail 
to  see  the  call  of  partner,  they  miss  the  important  infer- 


276  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

ences  that  they  should  be  reading.  Good  players  call 
when  necessary,  but  experience  has  convinced  them  that 
it  is  best  to  be  very  conservative  in  the  matter  of  calling 
for  trumps.  They  will  lead  trumps  with  a  much  weaker 
hand  than  they  will  call  for  them,  especially  before  the 
hand  is  developed.  If  you  call  for  trumps  you  are  re- 
sponsible for  the  result,  for  you  command  partner  to  give 
up  his  hand  to  yours,  and  he  is  expected  to  make  almost 
any  sacrifice  to  comply  with  your  order.  This  being  the 
case  you  should  not  issue  such  an  arbitrary  command 
unless  you  are  reasonably  sure  that  your  game  will 
succeed. 

As  before  pointed  out,  care  must  be  taken  in  reading  the 
play  of  second  and  third  hand  in  reference  to  calling,  as 
second  hand  may  be  covering  and  third  hand  unblocking. 
Any  player  may  call  for  trumps  at  any  stage  of  the  play  of 
the  hand;  but  an  early  call  carries  with  it  more  force  than 
one  made  late  in  the  play.  A  player  may  have  had  the 
lead,  and  at  the  time  not  consider  it  expedient  to  lead 
trumps,  but  the  subsequent  play  may  determine  for  him 
that  a  trump  lead  is  best.  Of  course,  the  fact  of  his 
having  the  lead  and  not  leading  trumps  should  not  and 
does  not  debar  him  from  afterwards  calling.  For  the 
same  reasons,  the  original  leader  of  the  hand  may  call, 
although  having  the  lead  he  did  not  lead  trumps.  For 
example:  A  may  have  the  double  tenace  in  trumps — ace, 
qu,  10  and  small — king  turned  with  D;  k,  kn,  10  and  one 
small;  qu  and  small,  and  three  small  in  the  other  suits. 
A  leads  the  10 — from  the  k,  kn,  10  suit;  B  wins  with  ace 
(C  having  put  up  the  qu)  and  then  opens  his  suit,  lead- 
ing k,  then  ace  ;  A  asks  for  trumps,  for  now  the  hand 
has  developed,  and  while  A  was  not  justified  in  starting 
off  with  trumps,  he  surely  has  good  reasons  for  asking  B 
to  start  them. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


277 


CHAPTER   VIII. 


THE    ECHO. 

IF  partner  calls,  or  leads  trumps,  or  by  his  play  shows 
four  or  more  trumps,  you  echo  with  four  or  more  in  hand. 
You  do  this  at  your  earliest  opportunity.  The  advan- 
tages of  the  echo  are  evident  ;  if  partner  can  count  your 
trumps,  he  does  not  go  on  with  an  unnecessary  round. 
The  echo  is  usually  a  very  simple  thing,  but  at  times  it 
is  not  so  easily  accomplished  ;  it  should  be  made,  how- 
ever, even  at  some  sacrifice  of  strength  ;  but  situations 
will  occur  —  holding  exactly  four  trumps,  three  high  cards 
and  one  small  one  —  where  you  will  lose  a  trick  if  you 
attempt  to  echo.  Of  course  when  it  is  evident  that  loss 
will  result  from  the  sacrifice  you  must  make  to  echo,  you 
will  not  echo.  Here  is  an  illustration  of  a  call  and  echo 
—  Clubs  Trumps. 


TRICK  i. 


B 


o  o 

0 

<>   o 

0 

o 

o  o 

O    0 

o 

1 

TRICK  2. 


C  does  not  trump  the  7  d — trick  2 — as  it  is  a  doubtful 


278 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


card,  and  an  even  chance  that  D  has  the  king.  C  has 
but  four  trumps  and  does  not  wish  to  be  forced  ;  he 
throws  the  ace  of  spades  showing  control  of  the  suit  ; 
and  by  the  play  asks  his  partner  for  trumps.  Had  C 
thrown  any  spade,  higher  than  the  seven,  upon  this  trick 
it  would  have  also  been  an  absolute  call  for  trumps. 
(See  Call.)  Passing  a  doubtful  card  is  not  a  call  for 
trumps,  but  it  implies  either  four  trumps  or  three  good 
ones  that  had  best  not  be  broken,  and  is  a  direct  intima- 
tion to  partner  to  lead  them,  if  he  has  any  assistance. 
D  begins  the  echo  at  once,  having  four  trumps,  by  the 
play  of  the  9,  holding  originally  in  the  d  suit  10,  9,  6,  4. 


TRICK  3. 


B  returns  the  k  d,  having  no  good  suit  of  his  own, 
with  the  idea  of  forcing  the  calling  hand.  D  by  the  play 
of  the  6  d  completes  the  echo  ;  C  takes  the  force  will- 
ingly now,  as  he  reads  four  trumps  in  D's  hand,  and  un- 
less he  finds  five  trumps  in  one  hand  against  him,  he  will, 
with  the  help  of  D,  bring  in  the  spades.  A  call  and  echo 
may  be  completed  in  the  play  of  five  cards,  as  follows  : 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


279 


Here  C  has  called  by  the  discard  of  the  9  h.  Now 
suppose  that  D  at  once  returns  the  2  d,  he  echoes  great 
strength,  for  D  would  never  deliberately  force  his  partner 
—who  has  called — unless  he  was  so  strong  that  he  could 
absolutely  take  care  of  the  trump  suit. 

Echoing  by  the  Manner  of  Taking  the  Force. 

If  partner  calls,  and  a  suit  is  led  of  which  you  are  void, 
you  can  show  the  number  of  trumps  you  have  by  the  way 
you  take  the  force.  For  example  :  You  hold  the  3,  2 
only,  you  trump  with  the  2,  and  lead  the  three,  and  you 
have  no  more.  If  you  hold  the  4,  3,  2,  you  take  the 
force  with  the  2,  and  lead  the  4,  and  you  show  the  3,  or 
no  more.  Again  :  You  hold  the  5 ,  4,  3,  2,  you  trump 
with  the  3,  and  lead  the  2,  and  you  show  exactly  two 
more.  Still  again  :  You  hold  the  6,  5,  4,  3,  2  ;  you  take 
the  force  with  the  4,  and  lead  the  3,  and  the  play  will 
usually  show  partner  that  you  held  five  originally.  If 
you  take  the  force  and  do  not  lead  trumps  you  show,  of 
course,  that  you  held  but  the  single  trump.  So  that  you 
can  show  any  number  of  trumps.  The  lowest  trumps, 
and  in  sequence,  too,  render  these  examples  very  plain 
and  simple,  as  it  was  intended  they  should  be,  but  when 
you  hold  both  high  and  low  trumps  under  the  same  con- 
ditions the  play  becomes  more  intricate.  To  illustrate  : 


280 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Partner  calls,  you  are  forced,  holding  ace,  4,  3,  2 — you 
trump  with  the  3,  and  lead  the  ace  and,  the  deuce  not 
falling  in  the  first  round,  partner  gives  you  the  deuce  and 
one  more.  If  with  the  same  holding  you  take  the  force 
with  the  deuce  and  lead  the  ace,  partner  must  give  you 
but  one  more,  or  no  more.  In  exceptional  cases  your 
three  trumps  with  the  ace  may  be  of  such  rank  that  you 
do  not  deem  it  safe  to  sacrifice  the  penultimate  in  taking 
the  force,  and  partner  will  read  your  play  subject  to  this 
possible  contingency.  When  you  hold  four  or  more 
trumps,  the  highest  being  ace,  and  you  are  forced — part- 
ner having  called, — you  must  lead  the  ace  after  taking 
the  force.  This  under  certain  conditions  renders  echoing 
more  difficult,  or  rather  partner  may  not  so  readily  read 
the  play,  for  the  echo  may  not  be  made  evident  until  the 
second  round.  For  instance,  you  hold  ace,  8,  7,  6  ;  part- 
ner has  called  ;  you  are  forced  ;  you  take  the  force  with 
the  7  and  then  lead  the  ace  ;  the  fall  may  be  such  that 
partner  is  left  in  doubt.  To  illustrate  : — 


* 

4*     v 

*  * 

*** 
4.    4. 

*    4- 
*    * 

*** 

4.    4. 

*    * 

c 

B 
D 

**** 
4-  * 
**** 

[*  +  **! 
* 
!»-H"»i 

A 

^-i-* 

rar 

A  A  ,?A 

*     * 

pr* 

\Mi 

'.'M; 

•?• 

"  A  • 

f® 

[*     •!• 

*  * 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


28l 


This  is  the  trump  suit,  A  has  called,  B  is  forced  and 
trumps  with  the  7,  and  B  leads  ace  ;  D  plays  3  ;  A  plays  4  ; 
C  plays  2. 

There  is  nothing  yet  to  show  A  that  B  has  two  more, 
as  both  the  8  and  6  could  be  with  either  C  or  D. 

B  leads  6  ;  D  plays  9  ;  A  plays  k  ;  C  plays  qu. 

A  can  now  count  the  hands  ;  B  must  have  the  8  and 
D  the  10. 

A  having  asked  for  trumps,  B's  play  is  based  upon  the 
assurance  that  A  has  strength  in  trumps.  Barring  excep- 
tional hands,  a  call  for  trumps  is  not  issued,  unless  sup- 
ported by  four  trumps — two  honors,  or  five  trumps — one 
honor.  When  A  has  called,  and  B  is  forced,  holding  ace 
and  three  small  trumps,  he  should  take  the  force  with 
the  penultimate,  and  lead  the  ace.  The  lead  of  the  ace 
insures  two  rounds;  beside  the  lead  of  the  lowest  will 
often  lose  a  trick.  When  B  has  four  trumps,  A  five 
trumps,  there  is  a  great  probability  of  finding  a  high 
card  unguarded  with  the  opponents.  Take,  for  example, 
this  case  : — 


*** 

V 

*** 


*** 


*  * 
* 

*  * 


B 


D 


**** 
****! 


*    * 

*&* 
*** 


*  * 

*  * 

* 

*  * 

* 

*  * 

*  * 

* 

282 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


B  trumps  with  the  7,  then — 

i. — B  leads  5  ;  D  plays  2  ;  A  plays  kn  ;  C  plays  qu. 
C   D  must  take  two  tricks  in  trumps.     If  B  leads  the 
ace,  this  is  not  the  case.     Or  this  : — 


E 


* 

*  * 


B 


* 


I) 


*  * 

*      * 

*      * 

* 

*&* 
*** 

*      * 

* 

*      * 

*._* 

4.     * 

* 

B  trumps  with  the  7,  then — 

i. — B  leads  5  ;  D  plays  2  ;  A  plays  kn  ;  C  plays  qu. 

Here  D  may  make  his  king  by  ruffing.  If  B  leads  the 
ace  and  follows  with  the  5,  the  k  and  qu  fall  together  ; 
and  A  can  read  the  8,  7  in  B's  hand. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC   WHIST. 


There   are  a  few  positions  unfavorable  to  the  lead  of 
the  ace,  after  taking  the  force.     Here  is  one  : — 


* 

*** 

*  * 

*** 

*** 

*  * 

*  * 

*   * 

* 
*  * 

1*1 

.%  *  .*. 

*    * 


D 


*  * 

4.  * 

* 

*  * 

* 

*_* 

*  * 

* 

Here,  if  B  leads  the  ace,  the  k  must,  of  course,  make. 
If  B  leads  the  5,  and  D  plays  the  deuce,  the  k  falls  to 
the  ace.  But  analysis  clearly  demonstrates  that  B,  hold- 
ing four  trumps,  the  highest  being  the  ace,  should  lead 
the  ace  after  a  force — in  response  to  A's  call. 

It  is  easy  to  demonstrate  that  the  great  majority  of 
positions  are  favorable  to  the  lead  of  the  lowest  after  tak- 
ing the  force,  when  the  player's  four  trumps  are  all  smaller 
than  the  knave.  A  card  like  the  TO,  9  or  8  has  prac- 
tically no  value  as  a  strengthening  card  to  a  player  who 
has  called.  In  most  cases  the  strengthening  card  will  be 


284 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


sacrificed,  or  finessed — to  the  loss  of  a  trick  or  more — 
and  valuable  information  withheld.     Suppose  this  case: 


*** 
*** 

*** 
*** 

*  ,* 

V 

*% 

* 
* 
* 

•!• 
* 

B 
G                               D 
A 

**** 
* 

.;.:.:-:. 

*  *  * 
*  *  * 

*       * 
4.       4. 

1 

* 

*** 

*   * 

*   * 

*    * 
* 
*    * 

This  is  the  trump  suit.  A  has  called;  B  is  forced  and 
trumps  with  the  3,  then— 

i. — B  leads  10;  D  plays  4 — a  trick  is  lost  whether  A 
finesses  or  plays  k.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  B  leads  2,  A 
reads  at  once  that  B  has  two  trumps  remaining,  and  he 
will  play  k;  then  lead  ace,  and  D's  9  will  fall  to  B's  10. 
Give  A  the  4,  held  by  D  in  the  above  illustration,  then  if 
B  takes  the  force  with  the  3  and  leads  the  10,  and  A 
finesses  it  also  loses  a  trick. 

There  are,  of  course,  positions  favorable  to  the  lead  of 
the  10,  9  or  8,  as  a  strengthening  card,  but  they  are 
exceptional. 

This  leaves  open  for  further  consideration  the  play  of 
B,  when  he  holds  four  trumps,  one  or  more  honors,  A 
having  called.  The  writer  has  analyzed  almost  every 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


285 


possible  position,  giving  the  partner  of  the  calling  hand 
just  four  trumps,  the  highest  not  the  ace.  Positions 
were  found  where  the  lead  of  the  strengthening  trump 
would  gain  a  trick  over  the  lead  of  the  lowest,  after  tak- 
ing the  force  with  the  penultimate.  But  in  far  the 
greater  number  of  cases  the  lead  of  the  strengthening 
card  either  lost  a  trick  at  once,  or  rendered  the  position 
unfavorable  to  the  calling  hand.  It  was  found  that  a 
trick  might  be  lost  in  positions  apparently  the  most 
favorable  for  the  lead  of  the  strengthening  card.  Take 
this  case: — 


*  * 

*  * 

*  * 


B 


D 


*   * 

*   * 

*** 
*** 

* 

*  * 

*  4 

A  has  called;  B  is  forced  and  trumps  with  the  3,  and — 

i. — B  leads  kn;  D  plays  4;  A  plays  5;  C  plays  8. 

2. — B  leads  6;  D  plays  7;  A  plays  qu;  C  plays  10. 

D's  k  now  falls  to  A's  ace,  and  A  B  have  five  tricks 
from  their  combined  trumps.  Yet  even  here  A  B  may 
have  lost  a  trick  by  the  lead  of  B's  strengthening  kn. 
For  example,  B  trumps  as  before  with  the  3,  and — 


286 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


i. — B  leads  2;  D  plays  4;  A  plays  qu;  C  plays  8. 

Now,  note  how  probable  it  is — in  practice — for  A  to 
hold  a  losing  card  of  the  suit  that  B  has  previously 
ruffed.  In  such  cases  it  is  A's  policy  to  take  the  first 
round  in  order  to  force  B.  B  has  declared  that  he  has 
two  trumps  remaining — one  with  which  to  take  the  force, 
and  the  other  to  give  back  through  the  k. 

2. — A  leads  the  suit  B  can  ruff;  C,  being  now  void  of 
the  suit,  trumps  with  the  10;  B  overtrumps  ;  D  follows 
suit.  Mark  that  had  B  led  the  strengthening  kn — trick 
i — he  could  not  now  overtrump. 

3. — B  leads  6;  D  plays  7;  A  plays  9 — and  D's  k  falls 
the  next  round.  A  B  score  six  tricks — n  gain  of  one 
trick  over  the  former  play. 

Suppose  the  hands  of  C  and  D  are  exchanged;  then 
we  have  the  following:— 


*  * 

*  * 


This  position  is  just  as  probable  as  the   last  one  illus- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


287 


trated.  A  has  called  ;  B  is  forced,  and  trumps  with  the 
3,  then:— 

i. — B  le:ids  kn;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  5;  C  plays  k. 

2. — C  leads  a  plain  suit;  B  trumps;  D  overtrumps;  A 
follows  suit. 

A  B  have  lost  a  trick  by  the  lead  of  the  kn,  possibly 
more,  for  D  may  make  a  trump  by  ruffing  a  suit  led  by 
C.  Here  is  another  phase  of  this  combination: — 


C 


*  * 
* 
+ 


B 


*    * 

**<> 


*** 
* 


B.  as  before,  trumps  with  the  penultimate,  and — 


288  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

i. —  B  leads  kn;  D  plays  4;  A  plays  7;  C  plays  k. 

2. — C  now  leads  a  card  of  his  established  suit;  B 
trumps;  D  overtrumps;  A  overtrumps  D.  A's  position  is 
bad.  He  cannot  read  the  hands.  C  may  have  the  10,  8, 
2,  or  there  may  be  a  trump  in  each  hand. 

In  examining  the  various  features  of  the  play  under 
analysis,  you  must  not  lose  sight  of  the  ever-present 
advantage  resulting  from  the  immediate  declaration  of 
four  trumps  ;  and  you  must  consider  the  disadvantages 
resulting  from  the  lead  of  the  strengthening  card;  for  it 
may  put  you  in  a  position  where  you  cannot  overtrump 
your  right-hand  adversary.  Or,  again,  it  may  so  weaken 
your  hand  that  it  enables  the  left-hand  opponent  to  over- 
trump you. 

The  importance  of  at  once  proclaiming  that  you  have 
four  trumps  is  very  great.  You  make  this  announce- 
ment of  your  numerical  power  immediately  after  ruffing 
a  suit,  and  you  give  notice  to  partner  that  he  may  safely 
adopt  two  lines  of  play:  (i)  Go  on  forcing  you  thus 
making,  under  certain  contingencies,  the  best  possible 
use  of  your  remaining  trumps.  (2)  Or  he  may  at  once 
proceed  to  disarm  the  opponents,  being  sure  of  his  power 
to  do  so,  due  to  your  positive  declaration  of  having 
originally  four  trumps. 

The  student  who  cares  to  carefully  analyze  the  various 
combinations,  will  find  that  in  a  large  majority  of  cases 
it  is  immaterial  whether  the  highest  or  lowest  trump  is 
led.  That  is  to  say  that  no  trick  will  be  either  gained  or 
lost  in  the  direct  play  of  the  trumps.  But  in  nearly  all 
such  positions  the  lowest  is  very  much  the  better  lead, 
due  to  the  information  it  imparts,  and  the  subsequent 
gain  in  tricks  resulting  therefrom.  Many  positions  will 
be  found  where  the  lead  of  the  highest  will  at  once  lose  a 
trick.  Others  when  the  lowest  will  result  in  loss.  The 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


289 


policy  of  the  play  here  advised  is  disputed.  But  the 
writer  believes  it  is  sound,  and  that  it  can  be  sustained 
by  analysis. 

A  careful  examination  of  the  following  tables  will  assist 
the  student  in  deciding  whether  the  lowest  or  highest 
trump  should  be  led  after  taking  the  force — partner 
having  called. 


Combinations  Unfavorable  to  the  Lead  of  the  Highest. 


A'S   HAND. 

C'S  HAND. 

B'S   HAND. 

D'SHAND. 

Ace,  k,  6,  5,  3.* 

Queen. 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

io,  8,  7. 

Ace,  k,  6,  5,  3. 

10,  8,  7. 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

Queen. 

Ace,  k,  6,  5,  3. 

Qu.  7- 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

io,  8. 

Ace,  k,  6,  5. 

Qu,7. 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

io,  8,  3. 

Ace,  qu,  6,  5,  3. 

io.  8,  7. 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

King. 

Ace,  qu,  6,  5. 

9>  7,  3- 

Kn,  8,  4,  2. 

K,  io. 

Ace,  kn,  6,  5,  3. 

io,  8,  7. 

Qu,  9,  4.  2. 

King. 

Ace,  10,  6,  5,  3. 

K,  kn,  7. 

Qu,  9.  4.  2. 

7- 

Ace,  8,  6,  5,  3. 

K,  io,  7. 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

Queen. 

Ace,  8,  6.  5,  3. 

Qu,  io,  7, 

Kn,  9,  4,  2, 

King. 

King,  9,  6,  5,  3. 

Queen. 

Kn,  io,  4,  2. 

Ace,  8,  7. 

King,  8,  6,  5,  3. 

Kn,  io,  7. 

Qu,  9,  4,  2. 

Ace. 

King,  qu,  6,  5. 

10,8,7,3. 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

Ace. 

Queen,  9,  6,  5,  3, 

Kn,  io,  8. 

K,  7,  4,  2. 

Ace. 

Queen,  7,  6,  5,  3. 

Ace,  10,8. 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

King. 

Knave,  8,  6,  5,  3. 

K,  io,  7. 

Qu,  9,  4,  2. 

Ace. 

*  A  has  called  ;  B  is  forced,  and  takes  the  force  with  the  penultimate,  and 

then  leads  the  highest  of  the  three  remaining  trumps.  In  each  instance 

the  lead  of  the  highest  loses  a  trick,  as  against  the  lead  of  the  lowest. 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Combinations  Favorable  to  the  Lead  of  the  Highest. 


A'S  HAND. 

C'S  HAND. 

B'S   HAND. 

D'SHAND. 

Ace,  k,  6,  5,  3.* 

10. 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

Qu,8,  7. 

Ace,  qu,  6,  5,  3. 

10. 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

K,  8,  7. 

Ace,  kn,  6,  5,  3. 

10. 

Qu,  9.  4,  2. 

K,  8,  7. 

Ace,  10,  6,  5,  3. 

8. 

K,  kn,  4,  2. 

Qu,  9>  7- 

Ace,  10,  6,  5,  3. 

9- 

au,  kn,  4,  2. 

K,  8.  7. 

Ace,  10,  6,  5,  3. 

9>7- 

u,  kn,  4,  2. 

K,  8. 

Ace,  10,  6,  5,  3. 
Ace,  9,  6,  5,  3, 

7- 
8,7- 

Qu,  9,  4,  2. 

Qu,  kn,  4,  2. 

K,  kn,  8. 
K,  10. 

Knave,  9,  6,  5,  3. 

Queen. 

K,  7,  4,  2. 

Ace,  10,8. 

*  Here,  in  each  instance,  the  lead  of  the  highest  trump,  after  B  has  ac- 

cepted  the  force  with  the  4,  gams  a  trick  as  compared  with  the 

lead  of  the  lowest. 

Combinations  Favorable  to  the  Lead  of  the  Lowest. 


A'S  HAND, 

C'S   HAND. 

B'S   HAND. 

D'SHAND. 

Ace,  k,  6,  5,  3.* 

Any. 

Qu,  kn,  4.  2. 

Any. 

Ace,  qu,  6,  5,  3. 

Any. 

K,  7,  4,  2. 

Any. 

Ace,  qu,  6,  5,  3. 

Any. 

K,  10,  4,  2. 

Any. 

Ace,  qu,  6,  5,  3. 

Any. 

K,  kn,  4,  2. 

Any. 

Ace,  kn,  6,  5,  3. 

Any. 

K,  10,  4,  2. 

Any. 

Ace,  9.  6,  5,  3. 

Any. 

K,  qu,  4,  2. 

Any. 

King,  qu,  6,  5,  3. 

Any. 

Kn,  9,  4,  2. 

Any. 

King.  10,  6,  5,  3. 

Any. 

Qu,  kn,  4,  2. 

Any. 

Queen,  10,  6,  5,  3. 

Any. 

K,  kn,  4,  2. 

Any. 

Queen,  9,  6,  5,  3. 

Any. 

K,  10,  4,  2. 

Any. 

*  Here  the  lead  of  the  highest  or  lowest  neither  gains  nor  loses  in  the 

direct  play  of  trumps.    They  all,  however,  favor  the  lead  of  the  low- 

est —  due  to  the  immediate  announcement  of  B's  numerical  power. 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  291 

In  exceptional  cases,  B  may  be  forced,  holding  ace,  k, 
qu,  and  one  small,  or  ace,  king,  kn  and  one  small,  etc. 
In  such  cases,  B  will  not  attempt  to  echo  by  trumping 
with  the  penultimate,  as  he  can  show  his  numerical 
power  by  the  manner  in  which  he  leads  his  high  cards 
that  are  in  sequence.  For  example: — B  holds  ace,  k,  qu, 
and  one  small.  He  trumps  with  the  small  card,  and 
leads  qu,  then  ace,  and  is  marked  with  the  k. 

This  phase  of  the  echo  may  be  summed  up  as 
follows: — 

When  partner  calls,  and  you  are  forced,  you  trump 
with  the  lowest,  holding  less  than  four,  and  lead  the 
highest.  Holding  four  or  more — the  ace  not  the  highest 
—you  trump  with  the  third-best  and  lead  the  fourth-best. 
If  the  ace  is  in  hand  you  likewise  trump  with  the  third- 
best,  but  you  then  lead  the  ace.  The  trumps  you  hold, 
and  the  cards  that  fall  to  the  first  round,  will  determine 
for  you  the  card  to  select  for  the  second  lead. 

If  partner  calls  and  you  are  forced,  and  the  previous 
play  shows  that  your  left-hand  opponent  may  overtrump 
you,  you  must  then,  of  course,  trump  with  your  highest 
trump  and  lead  the  next  highest,  if  you  hold  less  than 
four  trumps  originally  ;  if  with  four  or  more,  trump  with 
the  highest  and  lead  the  lowest. 


Echoing  When  You  Get  in  Without  a  Force. 

If  partner  calls  and  you  gain  possession  of  the  lead 
without  being  forced,  you  answer  the  call  by  leading  the 
highest  of  less  than  four  trumps,  the  lowest  of  four — the 
highest  not  the  ace — and  the  fourth-best  if  you  have 
more  than  four.  In  response  to  partner's  request  for 
trumps,  you — holding  ace  and  any  number — lead  the  ace. 


2Q2  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Your  play  is  often  modified  by  the  trump  turned  or  the 
high  trump  cards  you  may  hold — especially  if  they  are 
in  sequence.  It  is  often  best  to  answer  partner's  call 
with  a  high  card,  even  though  you  hold  four  or  more. 
No  rules  will  cover  all  contingencies.  If  you  hold  qu, 
kn,  10  and  one  or  more  small,  king  up  to  your  left,  part- 
ner calls,  you  lead  the  queen,  through  the  king  turned, 
and  if  partner  has  the  ace  the  king  is  hemmed  in.  So 
also  if  you  hold  kn,  10  and  others,  queen  or  king  turned 
to  your  left,  the  knave  and  not  the  small  card  is  led. 

Echoing  in  a  Plain  Suit. 

You  can  echo  partner's  call  by  your  play  in  a  plain 
suit  as  well  as  in  trumps.  For  example  :  You  lead  ace 
of  a  plain  suit,  then  fourth-best,  taken  by  D  ;  partner 
called  ;  D  now  opens  a  plain  suit  ,  you  have  four  trumps 
—you  begin  an  echo  at  once  ;  say  D  then  leads  queen 
and  follows  with  ace,  you  play  the  5  then  4,  you  have 
echoed  four  or  more  trumps.  You  may  have  begun  an 
echo  in  the  first  round  of  trumps  ;  and  the  trick  going 
to  the  opponents,  you  may  not  have  an  opportunity  of 
completing  it  in  the  trump  suit,  you  must  then  start  an 
echo  in  the  next  suit  opened.  To  illustrate  :  Partner 
opens  the  hand  with  trumps,  and  the  first  trick  goes  to  D, 
who  then  opens  his  suit  with  ace  and  follows  with  king; 
you  had  originally  four  or  more  trumps  ;  you  play  to 
the  ace  and  king — led  by  D — the  4  and  3,  for  instance,  in 
the  order  named,  and  partner  reads  the  echo. 

Echoing  to  Partner  s  Lead  of  Trumps. 

If  partner  leads  trumps,  you  holding  less  than  four— 
and  you  do  not  attempt  to  take  the  trick — you  play  your 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  293 

lowest  card.  If  you  hold  more  than  three,  you  play  the 
third-best — as  with  6,  5,  4,  3  or  6,  5,  4,  3,  2 — you  play 
the  4  to  the  first  round  in  each  case.  It  will  often  hap- 
pen that  partner  can  read  the  echo  of  strength  before 
the  echo  is  really  completed.  Suppose  that  A  leads  the 
ace  from  ace,  qu,  kn  and  deuce;  C  playing  7;  B  6; 
D  5.  Now,  the  4  and  3  have  not  fallen,  and  A  at  once 
draws  the  inference  that  B  is  echoing  five  trumps. 
Again:  Suppose  partner  asks  for  trumps,  and  you  get  in 
and  lead  him  a  medium  low  card,  say  the  7  or  6,  the 
fall  of  the  cards  to  your  lead,  in  conjunction  with  the 
cards  he  holds,  will  generally  afford  him  sufficient  data 
to  count  your  hand  with  accuracy.  The  inference  would 
be — even  unaided  by  the  cards  he  holds — that  you  did 
not  have  three  cards  higher  than  the  card  led,  and  that 
you  led  the  highest  of  three — or  less.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  you  respond  with  a  very  small  card,  say  the  3 
or  2,  the  inference  is  that  you  probably  have  four  or 
more.  If  you  respond  with  the  2,  you  must  have  three 
more  or  no  more;  if  with  the  3,  and  the  2  falls,  you  must 
likewise  have  no  more  or  three  more,  etc. 

It  will  often  happen  that  partner  can  count  your 
trumps,  even  if  you  respond  with  a  card  as  high  as  the 
7  or  8;  suppose  you  answer  the  call  with  the  7;  the 
adversaries  drop  the  3  and  2,  and  your  party  has  the  6, 
5,  4;  he  knows  at  once  that  you  have  no  more  or  three 
more. 


Echoing  with  High  Cards  in  Sequence. 

Holding  high  trumps  in  sequence,  any  one  of  which 
will  win  the  trick,  you  can  show  the  number  of  trumps  by 
the  order  in  which  you  play  or  lead  these  high  cards. 
There  is  a  difference  of  opinion  even  with  good  players 


294 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


as  to  the  proper  manner  of  echoing  four  or  more  trumps, 
and  owing  to  this  diversity  a  trick  is  not  infrequently 
lost.  Below  will  be  found,  in  tabular  form,  the  proper 
play — holding  master  cards  in  sequence — to  partner's 
lead  of  trumps,  as  well  as  the  correct  card  to  lead  in  re- 
sponse to  his  call. 


Echo   Table. 


(Showing  B's  play  or  lead  to  A's  lead  of  or  call  for  trumps.) 


HOLDING 

PLAY 

LEAD 

INFERENCES. 

FIRST 

S'C'ND 

FIRST 

S'C'ND 

Ace,  k,  qu, 
only 

Qu 

Ace 
K 

K 
Ace 

K 

Qu 

Ace 

Ace 
K 

Qu 
Qu 

Ace 

Ace 
K 

K 

Ace 
K 

K 
Ace 

Shows  ace  and  no 
more  (a). 
Shows  k  and  one 
or  more  (b). 
Not    continuing, 
shows  no  more  (c) 
Continuing,  shows 
three  in  suit  (d). 
Shows  two  at  least 
remaining  (e). 

Ace,  k,  qu, 
oneormore 
Ace,  k,  only 

Ace,  k,  one 
more  ..... 

Ace,  k,  two 
or  more.  .. 

(a)  The  lead  of  the  qu  then  k,  in  response  to  partner's  call  must 
show  the  ace  and  no  more,  for  if  k,  qu  only  were  in  hand,  the  k 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  295 

then  qu  would  have  been  led,  and  if  ace,  k,  qu,  and  one  or  more 
were  held,  queen  then  ace  are  led.     {See  following  note.) 

(b)  If  A  leads  trumps,  and  B  plays  ace  and  returns  the  qu — the  qu 
winning — the  k  and  one  small  must  be  with  B;  for  if  B  holds  tierce 
major  only  he  plays  qu  then  k.     If  B  leads  the  qu  (in  response  to 
A's  call)  and  it  wins,  and  follows  with  ace,  the  k  must  be  in  hand, 
for  if  B  held  the  ace,  qu  (and  not  the  k),  with  or  without  others,  he 
leads  the  ace. 

(c)  In  the  event  of  A  holding  six  trumps,  and  C  and  D  following 
to  the  two  rounds,  B  will  not  continue  the  lead  of  trumps,  even  if 
he  had  one   more,  and   this  contingency  may  leave  A  in  doubt, 
whether  B  has  no  more  or  one  more.       But  if  B's  small  trump — in 
the  event  of  his  holding  one,  and  not  going  on — is  smaller  than 
any  of  the  trumps  C  and  D  have  played,  then  A  can  place  it  with  B. 

(d)  When  B  follows  with  his  small  card  he  shows  A  that  he  held 
originally  but  three  trumps.       As  pointed  out  in  a  preceding  note, 
B  may  be  able  to  read  that  the  opponents  are  void,  and  in  this  case 
will,  of  course,  discontinue  the  lead  of  trumps,  but  in  this  event  A 
will  nearly  always  read  the  remaining   trump  with  B,  unless  B's 
third  trump  is  a  tolerably  high  card,  such  as  kn,  10  or  9. 

(e)  There  is  no  mistaking  the  play  or  lead  here,  as  they  show  at 
least  four  originally,  whether  trumps  are  continued  or  not.     If  the 
echoing  hand   goes  on  with  trumps,  having  held  more  than  four 
originally,  he  can  generally  show  it  by  his  third  lead. 


B,  holding  k,  qu,  kn,  only  ;  k,  qu,  kn  and  one  ;  or  k, 
qu  and  two  small,  the  ace  known  to  be  with  A  or  C,  or 
out  of  play,  can  generally  manage  to  echo  strength  by  a 
similar  order  of  play  to  that  given  in  the  table.  For 
example:  A  leads  trumps  (the  ace  turned  with  A  or  C) 
B  holding  k,  qu  and  two  small,  plays  the  k  and  returns 
the  qu  and  shows  two  or  more  remaining.  Examples 
showing  the  advantages  of  echoing,  as  given  in  the  fore- 
going table,  follow. 

Holding  ace,  k  and  two  small: — 


296 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


:*: 


•>   * 

*** 


* 
4,    * 


4,    4. 


i. — A  leads  4;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  ace;  D  plays  2. 
2. — B  leads  k;  D  plays  qu;  A  plays  3;  C  plays  8. 
A  gives  B  the  10,  6.  Again: — 


*** 
*** 


*** 

V 

*** 


B 


I) 


I* 


*** 

4,^4* 

*   * 


4.    4. 


4.    4, 


4.  4, 

* 

* 

*  * 

_*-. 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


>97 


i. — A  leads  4;  C  plays  qu;  B  plays  k;  D  plays  2. 

2. — B  leads  ace;  D  plays  6;  A  plays  3;  C  discards. 

3. — B  leads  10;  D  plays  7;  A  plays  kn;  C  discards. 

A,  here,  could  not  give  B  the  8,  as  he  played  first  k 
then  ace  showing  but  three  at  most.  A  takes  the  10,  to 
draw,  as  he  supposes,  the  8  from  D.  Whether  B  returns 
the  10  or  8,  A  must  give  D  the  last  trump.  But  if  B 
plays  ace,  then  k,  then  10,  A  gives  him  the  8. 

Holding  ace,  k,  qu  anj  one  small: — 


*++ 


B 
C                             D 
A 

4-         * 
* 
*         * 

**** 
* 
**** 

fynjt!  ***  ***  *  * 

***    4-    4*    ^    *f 

i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  qu;  D  plays  2. 
2. — B  leads  k;  D  plays  3;  A  plays  7;  C  plays  9. 
3. — B  leads  ace;  D  plays  4;  A  plays  10;  C  discards. 
B,  of  course,  can  read  the  knave  with  A,  but  A  must 


298 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


give  the  8  to  D,  as  B  played  his  major  sequence  just  as 
he  should,  had  he  not  held  the  8.     Again: — 


D 


*•  [+-+ 


i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  ace;   D  plays  3. 

2. — B  leads  qu;  D  plays  4,  A  plays  2,  C  plays  9. 

B  reads  the  kn,  10,  7  with  A,  and  the  qu  winning  the 
second  round  marks  B  with  the  k  and  8.  It  is  true  that 
D  might  possibly  have  both  king,  8 — holding  up  the 
second  round,  as  B,  holding  the  major  tenace  only,  would 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


299 


play  just  as  he  did;  but  this  would  be  exceptional  All 
holding  up  and  underplay  are,  at  times,  liable  to  mislead. 
Whenever  B  is  left  with  cards  in  sequence,  any  one  of 
which  will  win  the  trick,  he  can  echo  by  reversing  the 
usual  order  of  their  play.  This,  for  instance; — 


C 


B 


I) 


*  * 


*  *  * 


*  * 

4.  * 

* 

* 

* 

*  * 

*  * 

* 

i.— A  leads  4;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  6. 

B  cannot  afford  to  risk  the  sacrifice  of  the  10  in  an 
attempt  to  echo. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  3;  C  renounces;  B  plays  k;  D 
plays  7. 

3. — B  leads  qu;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  5 — and  the  10  is 
marked  with  B. 


300 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


If,  on  the  other  hand,  B  plays  the  qu  then  k,  A  must 
give  D  the  10. 

B  may  be  enabled  to  echo  with  the  aid  of  the  trump 
turned. 

This,  for  example — queen  turned: — 


*  * 

*+: 

*  * 


*  * 


B 


*  * 


D 


*** 

*  * 

* 

4.  * 

*  * 

*  * 

*__* 

4* 

I. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  9;  D  plays  3 
2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  2;  C  renounces;  B  plays  k;  D 
plays  4. 

B  does  not  continue  the  suit,  as  he  can  read  A  with 
the  kn,  10,  7,  and  A  is  certain  B  has  the  qu,  8,  5.  Again: 
B  has  k,  qu,  9,  6,  the  qu  turned.  A  leads  low  trump;  C 
plays  low;  B  plays  the  k,  and  at  once  shows  four  or  more. 
Or,  again:  B  has  the  10,  9,  8,  7 — the  8  turned;  A  leads 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


3OI 


the  ace;  B  plays  the  9,  and  it  is  certain  that  he  is  echoing 
four  or  more. 

Echoing,  Holding  High  and  Low  Cards. 

To  a  low  card  led  by  A,  B  making  an  effort  to  take  the 
trick  may  find  it  impossible  to  echo,  but  usually  B  can 
manage  his  cards  so  that  the  fall  to  the  third  round,  if 
not  to  the  second,  will  enable  A  to  read  the  hands.  Here 
is  a  case  in  point: — 


V 

*** 


1) 


*  * 

*  * 


i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  5;   B  plays  qu;  D  plays  k. 
2  (B  to  lead).— B  leads  ace;  D  plays  2;.  A  plays  4;  C 
discards. 

A  shows  five  trumps,  and  B  can  read  a  trump  with   D. 


302 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


B  must  now  lead  the   9,  thus  showing  A  that  he  has  the 
3.     If  B  leads  the  3,  A  must  give  the  9  to  D.     Again:— 


*  * 

* 

*** 

*  * 

*  * 


* 

* 

* 

* 

* 

D 


*&* 

4. '  4. 

*** 


*_* 


Here  is  an  exceptional  distribution  of  the  trump  suit, 
but  it  is  the  exceptional  hands  that  require  careful 
handling,  and  often  unconventional  treatment.  A  has 
called;  is  forced  and  trumps  with  the  6,  then: — 

i. — A  leads  qu;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  ace;  D  plays  7. 

2. — B  leads  2;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  10;  C  discards. 

B  has  played  without  due  consideration  here,  and  such 
carelessness  may  cost  a  trick  or  more.  B  has  left  A  in 
doubt  as  to  the  location  of  the  9.  B  can  read  that  D 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


3°3 


can  have  no  more,  but  A  can  only  give  B  the  4,  3  for 
sure.  A  may,  in  fact  must,  go  on  with  an  unnecessary 
round,  for  he  must  give  B  the  credit  of  playing  correctly. 
Again: — 


4.  * 
*  * 
*_* 


* 
* 
*    * 


B 


*       * 


*       * 


D 


!**** 
* 

!**** 


i. — A  leads  3;  C  plays  kn;  B  plays  qu;  D  plays  k. 

2  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  5;  D  plays  9;  A  plays  10;  C 
plays  7. 

A  gives  B  the  8,  6,  but  to  read  this  A  must  note  care- 
fully the  fall;  he  marks  that  D  cannot  have  the  8  or  the 
6,  having  played  th'e  9;  C  can  have  no  more,  for  with 


3°4 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


three  originally,  he  would  not  have  played  the  kn  first 
round.     Suppose,  however,  the  trumps  lay  as  under: — 


B 


*** 
*** 


*  * 

*&* 
*** 

*  * 


*  * 

*  * 

* 

*  * 

4.  4. 

i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  2:  B  plays  kn;  D  plays  k. 

2  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  3;  D  plays  6;  A  plays  ace;  C 
plays  7. 

B  can  read  A's  hand,  but  A  cannot  place  the  qu,  8,  he 
only  knows  for  sure  that  B  has  either  no  more  or  both 
of  these  cards.  D  may  have  the  8,  or  C  may  have  both 
qu  and  8.  If,  however,  the  8  and  6  change  places, 
everything  is  clear  to  A,  and  this  demonstrates  the  im- 
portance of  noting  precisely  the  cards  that  fall,  and  from 
whom.  A  single  pip  may  make  a  great  difference.  Give 
B  the  6,  D  the  8,  and  then- 

i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  kn;  D  plays  k. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  305 

2  (B  to  lead).-— B  leads  3;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  ace;  C 
plays  7- 

B  must  now  have  the  6  as  C  and  D  each  threw  higher 
cards  to  the  second  trick,  and  B  having  the  6  must  also 
have  the  qu,  for  with  6,  3  only,  he  would  have  led  the  6 
not  the  3.  Once  more:  Take  the  same  illustration  as  last 
diagramed: — 

i. — A  leads  5:  C  plays  2;  B  plays  kn;  D  plays  k. 

2  (A  to  lead).— A  leads  ace;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  8;  D 
plays  6. 

A  leading  at  trick  two,  B  does  not  have  to  make  an 
effort  to  take  the  trick,  and  throwing  the  8,  marks  the  3 
in  his  hand  and  consequently  the  qu  also.  B,  attempt- 
ing to  take  the  trick  the  first  round,  could  not  echo,  but 
A  leading  the  ace  gave  him  the  opportunity  to  do  so. 

These  examples  illustrate  the  fact  that  usually  B  can 
so  handle  his  cards  that  A  may  read  his  trumps,  and  it 
is  seldom  an  unnecessary  round  of  trumps  need  be 
played.  On  account  of  the  negative  inference  partner 
will  draw,  you  should  be  on  the  alert  to  echo  at  the 
earliest  moment.  For  instance,  you  lead  the  3,  from  the 
k,  qu,  4,  3;  second  hand  plays  ace;  partner  plays  5; 
fourth  hand  the  2;  you  know  that  partner  has  not 
started  an  echo,  and  consequently  has  at  most  two 
more,  C  no  more,  D  at  least  four  more;  you  do  not 
persist  in  trumps,  and  if  it  turns  out  that  partner  had 
four  trumps  and  did  not  echo — a  great  game  may  have 
been  lost, 


The  Sub-Echo. 

When  partner  calls,  or  leads  trumps  from  strength, 
you  sub-echo  if  you  hold  exactly  three  trumps.     The 


3o6 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


opportunity  to  sub-echo  may  develop  in  various  ways. 
Take  this  case: — 


*** 

4.  4. 

+** 

:*: 

*   * 

* 
* 

This  is  the  trump  suit. 

i.— A  leads  qu;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  4. 

B,  by  the  play  of  the  2,  shows  that  he  is  not  echoing, 
hence  has  less  than  four  trumps  (see  The  Echo).  Now' 
suppose  that  C  opens  a  suit  with  ace,  then  k,  B  plays  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


307 


3,  then  the  2,  he  sub-echoes,  and  proclaims  the  original 
possession  of  three  trumps. 
Or  this: — 


This  is  the  trump  suit. 

i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  ace;  D  plays  3. 
2. — B  leads  kn;  D  renounces;  A  plays  4;  C  plays  k. 
B  shows,  by  the  return  of  the  kn,  that  he  did  not  hold 


3o8 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


four  trumps  originally.     B  may  now  echo  in  the  usual 
way  in  the  next  suit  led  adversely. 
Take  this  case; — 


B 


D 


*  * 

*     * 

*** 
*** 

*      * 

*     * 

This  is  the  trump  suit.  A  has  called;  B  gains  the 
lead,  and— 

2.— B  leads  qu;  D  plays  5;  A  plays  4;  C  plays  k. 

B  shows,  by  the  lead  of  the  qu,  that  he  has  less  than 
four  trumps. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


309 


Here,  as  in  the  preceding  examples,  B  may  sub-echo, 
by  echoing  in  a  plain  suit  led  adversely. 
Again; — 


*  * 

*  * 

* 

* 

4.  * 

*  * 

4- 

B 


D 


This  is  the  trump  suit.  A  has  asked  for  trumps;  B  is 
forced,  and  takes  the  force  with  the  deuce,  and  therefore 
has  not  four  trumps,  then — 

i. — B  leads  5;  D  plays  3;  A  plays  qu;  C  plays  ace. 

Suppose,  for  example,  that  C  now  leads  k,  then  ace  of 
a  plain  suit,  and  B  plays  the  7,  then  4,  he  sub-echoes, 
and  A  reads  that  B  has  the  4  of  trumps  remaining. 

Valuable  negative  inferences  may  be  drawn   from  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


play.  Suppose  in  the  last  example  illustrated,  B  holds  the 
5,  2  only,  the  4  being  with  C.  B  will,  as  before,  take  the 
force  with  the  two  and  lead  the  five,  and  not  sub^echoing 
in  the  suit  led  by  C,  although  showing  by  his  play  that 
he  had  the  opportunity  to  do  so;  A  is  enabled  to  read  at 
once  that  B  has  not  the  4,  and  that  four  trumps  at  least 
are  in  one  hand  against  him. 
Once  more: — 


*  * 

* 

* 

*  * 

* 

This  is  a  plain  suit.  A  has  called  in  a  suit  previously 
led;  C  is  in  the  lead,  and — 

i.— C  leads  k;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  6;  A  plays  7. 

2. — C  leads  ace;  B  plays  5;  D  plays  9;  A  plays  8. 

B  has  not  echoed  A's  call,  consequently  has  not  four 
trumps.  If  another  suit  is  now  opened,  B  may  echo  in 
the  usual  way,  and  by  the  play  show  exactly  three 
trumps;  or  if  A  gets  in  and  leads  trumps,  B  may  sub- 
echo  the  holding  of  three  trumps  by  the  same  order  of 
play  as  he  would  adopt  to  echo  four  or  more. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


311 


The  student  will  understand  that  when  A  calls  or  leads 
trumps,  B  is  supposed  to  echo — if  he  holds  four  trumps 
— at  the  first  opportunity,  and  sub-echo — if  he  holds 
three  trumps — after  he  has  had  an  opportunity  to  echo 
and  did  not.  When  B  does  not  echo  on  the  first  oppor- 
tunity, or  shows  by  the  rank  of  the  card  led,  played,  or 
returned,  that  he  holds  less  than  four  trumps,  as  illus- 
trated in  the  foregoing  examples,  he  then  echoes  in  the 
usual  way  and  shows  by  the  play  exactly  three  trumps.  B, 
however,  on  the  first  or  second  rounds  of  the  trump 
suit,  may  not  be  able  to  show  that  he  has  less  than  four 
trumps.  He  may  be  forced  to  attempt  to  take  the  first 
round  of  trumps  or  the  relative  value  of  the  card  he  leads, 
plays,  returns,  or  with  which  he  takes  a  force,  may  be 
such  that  it  conveys  no  intimation  of  his  numerical  power 
in  trumps.  Under  such  circumstances  B  may  exhibit  his 
original  holding  of  exactly  three  trumps  in  the  following 
manner: — 


*&* 

*** 

*** 

*** 

*«* 

V 

3I2 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


This  is  the  trump  suit. 

i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  10;  D  plays  k. 

2. — (A  to  lead). — A  leads  9;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  3;  D 
plays  ace. 

B  has  not  been  able  to  give  any  information  to  A  in 
regard  to  his  numerical  power  in  trumps.  A  can  only 
read  that  unless  D  has  the  2,  B  is  echoing,  and  has  two 
trumps  remaining.  But  if  the  2  is  with  D,  B  may  have 
no  more.  B  may  now  exhibit  his  original  holding  of 
exactly  three  trumps.  Suppose  that  D  now  opens  a  suit 
distributed  as  follows: — 


*  * 

*  * 


*    * 


B 


**? 

*** 
*** 


I) 


*  * 


* 


I. — D  leads  k;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  4. 

2. — D  leads  5;  A  plays  9;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  6. 

Note  that  B  is  not  echoing  four  trumps.  Note,  also, 
that  A  can  read  that  B  must  have  the  deuce,  and  is  sub- 
echoing  three  trumps. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


3*3 


3. — C  leads  kn;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  7;  A  plays  10 — 
and  B  has  sub-echoed. 

The  opportunity  to  sub-echo  presents  itself  in  a  great 
variety  of  ways,  but  the  phases  here  illustrated  occur 
more  frequently  than  any  others. 

Anticipating  Call,  Refusing  to  Echo,  etc. 

You  may  sometimes  anticipate  a  call  from  partner, 
owing  to  the  high  card  he  has  played,  and  prepare  to 
echo,  but  you  must  be  in  a  position  not  to  complete  it 
in  case  partner  is  not  calling.  Take  this  case: — 


*** 

*  * 
*  * 

*  * 
* 
*  * 

*  * 
*  * 

****! 

*       *    | 

4.4.4.4- 


B 


I) 


*     * 
*    *    + 


*    * 

*A* 
*** 

* 


*    * 


i. — D  leads  k  (plain  suit);  A  plays  9;  C  plays  3;  B 
plays  5. 

B  suspects  that  A  might  be  calling,  and,  having  four 
trumps,  he  plays  the  5. 

2. — D  leads  ace;  A  plays  6;  C  plays  10;  B  plays  4. 


314  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

B  has  really  called,  as  A  may  not  suspect  the  echo,  but 
had  A  not  called,  B  would  have  played  the  7. 

If  partner  leads  a  high  trump  in  the  middle  or  end 
play,  or  at  any  time  when  it  is  probable  that  he  is  not 
leading  from  strength  in  trumps,  but  to  protect  a  great 
suit  developed  by  the  play,  you  should  not  echo  if  at 
any  sacrifice  of  strength.  For  example: — 

Partner  leads  the  'ace  from  ace  and  two  small,  you 
holding  k,  kn,  10,  2. 

If  you  play  the  10  you  lose  a  trick,  even  though  you 
catch  the  qu,  if  you  find  9  and  three  others  in  one  hand 
against  you. 

You  can  show  great  strength  in  trumps,  partner  having 
called,  by  refusing  to  answer  the  call,  forcing  him  in- 
stead. The  responsibility  of  the  game  rests  upon  you 
if  you  thus  deliberately  refuse  to  comply  with  his  request. 
Such  play  on  your  part  is  equivalent  to  saying:  "  Part- 
ner, I  have  great  strength  in  trumps,  and  deem  it  best 
to  first  force  you,  as  we  will  have  strength  enough  left  to 
draw  the  opponents'  trumps." 

If  partner  passes  a  doubtful  card  or  refuses  to  be 
forced,  he  proclaims  strength  in  trumps,  and  if  you  hold 
four  or  more  trumps  you  should  begin  to  echo  at  once. 
Suppose  D  opens  the  hand  with  ace  and  follows  with  the 
6;  A,  to  the  6,  throws  a  small  card  of  another  suit,  he 
has  not  asked  B  to  lead  trumps,  but  he  has  notified  him 
that  he  has  moderate  strength  in  trumps,  not  sufficient 
to  call,  perhaps,  but  he  shows  either  four  fair  trumps  or 
three  good  ones  that  he  does  not  care  to  break — especi- 
ally upon  a  doubtful  card.  Now,  suppose  the  6  is  won 
by  C,  who  then  opens  his  own  suit,  B  should  begin  an 
echo  at  once.  A  will  not  read  that  B  is  calling,  he  will 
know  that  B  is  echoing  four  or  more  trumps  to  his  (A's) 
negative  announcement  of  strength.  A,  here,  should  be 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  315 

on  the  alert,  and  if  B  drops  a  suspiciously  high  card,  he 
should  anticipate  B's  echo,  and  if  forced  again  by  D,  he 
should  take  the  force,  and  lead  trumps. 

The  instructions  to  the  student  in  the  foregoing  pages, 
in  the  management  of  trumps,  are  addressed  principally 
to  B  and  are  based  upon  the  fact  that  A  has  either 
called  for  trumps  or  by  his  play  shown  strength  in  them. 
If  A  calls  or  shows  strength  in  trumps — four  or  more — 
B's  management  of  his  trumps — /.  <?.,  the  manner  in 
which  he  takes  a  force,  leads  trumps,  etc.,  is  modified  by 
the  fact  that  B  knows  that  A  has  strength  in  them. 

The  card  to  lead,  when  a  trump  is  led  as  the  first  lead 
of  all,  is  the  same  as  in  a  plain  suit,  except  in  a  few 
instances,  which  are  pointed  out  in  the  Analysis  of 
Leads.  The  trump  card  turned  may  also  affect  the  lead 
of  trumps.  (See  page  74.) 


Trumps  Led  After  a  Force. 

When  you  are  forced  and  then  lead  trumps  of  your 
own  volition,  you  trump  with  your  lowest  trump  and 
and  lead  the  highest — holding  less  than  four.  For  in- 
stance: A  is  forced,  holding  kn,  10,  6;  he  trumps  with 
the  6,  and  leads  the  kn. 

Holding  four  trumps, — say  ace,  qu,  4,  3,  he  trumps 
with  the  3,  and  leads  the  4. 

When  a  player  is  forced,  holding  more  than  four 
trumps  he  takes  the  force  with  the  fourth-best  trump, 
and  if  he  then  leads  a  low  trump,  he  leads  his  original 
fifth-best  card.  For  example:  A  holds  kn,  10,  6,  5,  4; 
kn,  10,  6,  5,  4,  3,  orkn,  10,  6,  5,  4,  3,  2 — in  each  instance 
he  takes  the  force  with  the  5,  the  original  fourth-best, 
and  then  leads  the  4,  the  then  fourth-best  card.  By 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


this  order  of  play  A  shows  B  three  cards,  yet  in  hand, 
higher  than  the  card  led,  irrespective  of  the  card  he 
trumped  in  with.  Five  trumps  are  shown  immediately, 
by  the  force  and  lead;  and  with  six  or  more,  the  fall  to 
the  first  or  second  round  will  nearly  always  enable  B  to 
read  A's  exact  numerical  strength.  Suppose:— 


A  takes  the  force  with  the  6.     Then — 

i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  kn;  D  plays  ace. 

2  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  qu;  D  plays  3;  A  plays  4;  C 
plays  9. 

A  reads,  as  soon  as  D  plays  the  3  to  the  second  round, 
that  B  has  the  deuce,  and  as  B  can  read  three  higher 
cards  than  the  6  yet  in  A's  hand,  he  does  not  go  on  with 
trumps.  A  might  be  deceived  by  D  playing  false  (hold- 
ing the  deuce),  but  the  best  whist  players  do  not  play 
false  cards.  It  is  cheap  strategy — or  rather  no  strategy 
at  all — and  there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  it  in  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST  317 

long  run  (see  False  Cards).  Suppose,  upon  the  other 
hand,  A  takes  the  force  with  the  4,  and  leads  the  5,  or 
even  the  fourth-best,  the  6,  then  B  cannot  read  A's  hand. 

B  must  not  forget  that  A  may  have  been  compelled  to 
take  the  force  with  his  lowest  trump,  even  though  he 
holds  five  or  six  trumps,  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  might 
lose  a  trick  by  the  sacrifice  he  must  make  to  trump  with 
his  fourth-best.  Take  for  example: — Qu,  kn,  9,  8,  3. 
You  should  trump  with  the  3,  and  lead  the  8.  If  you 
trump  with  the  8  and  lead  the  3,  you  might  find  the  10 
and  two  small  with  C,  and  the  ace,  k,  7  with  D,  to  the 
immediate  loss  of  a  trick.  Such  chances  of  incurring 
loss,  however  slim,  a  careful  player  will  not  take.  It 
follows  that  B  must  always  read  A's  play,  subject  to  the 
possibility  that  A  may  have  taken  the  force  with  his 
lowest  trump,  holding  five  or  six,  owing  to  the  character 
of  the  trumps  in  hand.  Holding  five  or  six  trumps,  you 
can,  however,  usually  show  them  at  once;  but  if  to 
trump  with  the  fourth-best  is  too  great  a  sacrifice,  then 
trump  with  the  fifth-best  and  lead  the  fourth-best,  and 
when  the  small  trump  comes  out  later  on,  or  its  absence 
from  the  fall  marks  it  with  leader,  the  original  holding  of 
six  is  declared. 

If  partner  takes  a  force,  and  then  leads  trumps  of  his 
own  accord,  an  inference  is  that  he  has  five  or  more 
trumps,  even  if  the  manner  in  which  he  takes  the  force 
and  leads  does  not  proclaim  it  unless,  however,  he  is 
evidently  playing  for  the  protection  of  great  suits  in  his 
hand  or  marked  with  partner. 

Leading  a  High   Trump  After  a  Force. 

If  you  take  a  force,  holding  such  trumps  that  you 
must  then  lead  a  high  card,  you  lead,  and  follow  in 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


accordance  with  the  rules  for  leading  with  the  number 
you  hold  after  taking  the  force.  To  illustrate:  You  hold 
ace,  k,  qu,  5,  4;  you  are  forced,  trump  with  the  5,  and 
then  lead  the  k — not  the  qu.  Again:  With  ace,  qu,  kn, 
4,  3  you  trump  with  the  4,  and  lead  ace  then  qu.  But 
with  ace,  qu,  kn,  4,  3,  2,  you  take  the  force  with  the  4, 
and  lead  ace,  then  kn,  showing  that  you  held  originally 
six  trumps.  Holding  more  than  four  trumps — intending 
to  lead  a  high  card  after  taking  the  force — you  will  take 
the  force  with  your  lowest  trump,  if  to  trump  with  your 
fourth-best  is  any  sacrifice  of  strength.  If  your  small 
cards  are  in  sequence,  as  in  the  foregoing  examples,  you 
run  no  risk  by  trumping  with  the  fourth-best,  but  loss 
may  result  through  the  sacrifice  of  a  single  pip  in  rank, 
as  the  following  case  illustrates: — 


*  *  * 

*  *  * 


*  *  * 
*  * 

'!•      *      * 


**** 

* 
**** 


B 


D 


*        * 

^    •!• 

*_±J 


A  is  forced  and  trumps  with  the  6 — the  fourth-best. 
Then:— 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  319 

i. — A  leads  qu;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  k;  D  plays  2. 

C  now  leads  a  card  of  a  suit  of  which  both  D  and  A 
are  void.  D  trumps  with  the  5,  and  A  must  now  over- 
trump with  the  10 — or  yield  the  trick — thus  making  C's 
9  and  8  both  good,  and  a  trick  is  lost.  The  chances  of 
losing  a  trick  by  trumping  with  the  6 — with  this  hold- 
ing— are  very  slim,  but  a  careful  player  will  not  take  even 
this  chance,  as  there  is,  in  fact,  no  necessity  for  it.  If  A 
trumps  with  the  4,  and  then  leads  qu,  following  with 
10,  the  six  trumps  are  proclaimed. 


32O  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER     IX. 

THE    TRUMP    CARD. 

THE  rank  of  the  card  turned  may  affect  your  play, 
especially  if  it  is  a  high  card.  If  the  trump  card  is 
turned  to  your  right,  and  an  honor — say  k,  qu  or  kn — 
do  not  let  this  fact  alone  deter  you  from  leading  up  to 
it,  if  your  hand  demands  a  trump  lead.  Many  players 
carry  the  refusal  to  do  this  to  excess.  If  you  have  a 
tenace  over  the  card  turned — say  ace,  qu,  the  k  turned — 
it  is,  of  course,  an  advantage  to  have  the  trump  come 
up  to  you,  through  the  honor  turned,  particularly  a  high 
card  like  the  kn  or  10.  In  such  cases,  if  you  think  you 
can  get  word  over  to  partner  in  time,  you  may  not  lead 
trumps  as  you  otherwise  would,  if  the  card  turned  was 
a  small  one.  This  is,  however,  critical  work,  and  very 
often  results  in  more  loss  than  gain. 

There  is  no  time  that  you  should  watch  the  play  of 
partner  so  closely  as  when  an  honor  is  up  to  your  left. 
If  partner  does  not  open  with  trumps,  you  must  not  take 
it  for  granted  that  he  does  not  desire  trumps  led.  He 
may  be  waiting  to  get  word  across  to  you,  that  you  may 
lead  the  best  card  you  hold,  through  the  card  turned. 
Suppose  the  king  is  turned  to  your  left,  your  partner 
opens  with  a  high  card,  indicating  strength,  and  then 
changes  the  suit — leading  fourth-best,  if  you  win  the 
trick,  carefully  consider  the  advisability  of  leading  a 
trump  through  the  k  turned,  as  this  may  be  partner's 
desire.  It  follows  that  if  you  suspect  this,  you  should 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


32I 


not  finesse,  but  play  your  best  card  that  you  may  get  in 
to  comply  with  his  desire. 

If  you  lead  up  to  a  high  card  turned,  you  may  lead  a 
card  higher  than  the  one  that  is  up,  as  with  k,  kn,  10, 
and  others,  qu  turned,  you  lead  king  and  not  kn;  k,  kn, 
9,  and  others,  10  turned,  you  lead  kn,  etc.  If  the  card 
is  turned  to  you  left,  it  does  not  so  much  affect  your 
play;  you  can  generally  lead  the  conventional  card,  and 
partner  will  finesse  or  not,  as  he  thinks  best,  aided  by 
the  fact  that  he  knows  the  rank  of  the  card  turned  to  his 
right.  If  you  lead  through  a  hard  card  turned,  and 
partner  wins  the  trick  cheaply,  and  does  not  return  it, 
do  not  take  it  for  granted  that  he  has  no  more.  He  may 
be  waiting  to  have  you  again  lead  through  the  honor 
turned,  having  finessed  the  first  round.  In  such  cases, 
it  is  incumbent  upon  you  to  follow  up  the  advantage 
gained  by  B's  successful  finesse,  by  leading  through  the 
honor  again.  Take  the  follow  case: — 


* 

* 
* 


*   * 


+1 
*J 


**  * 
*  *  * 


B 


D 


*** 
*** 


*  * 

*&* 
*V* 

*  * 


*  * 

*  * 
+_* 


* 

* 

322  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

This  is  the  trump  suit;  C  has  the  k  turned.  B  opens 
the  hand — you  win,  and  holding  a  good  hand,  lead 
trumps.  But  you  first  show  B  your  own  good  suit,  lead- 
ing say  k  from  ace,  k,  qu,  and  one  small.  This  is  a 
point  that  should  not  be  forgotten.  In  such  cases,  if 
practicable,  show  partner  your  suit  before  you  lead 
trumps.  He  will  then  know  what  suit  to  lead  to  give  you 
the  lead.  You  must  take  care  that  your  suit  is  not  so 
strong  numerically  that  it  is  likely  to  be  trumped  the  first 
round.  Now  suppose: — 

i. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  kn;  D  plays  2. 

B  finesses  knave  here,  for  if  the  king  and  queen  are 
both  against,  one  at  least  must  make.  B  would  play  very 
poor  whist  to  return  the  ace,  and  thus  free  the  king.  A 
having  shown  B  his  suit,  B  leads  it,  A  takes  and — 

2.— A  leads  qu;  if  C  does  not  cover,  B  passes;  and  if 
C  puts  up  the  king,  B  wins  with  ace,  and  there  is  not  a 
trick  in  trumps  for  C,  although  he  holds  king  and  three 
others.  If  B  had  been  playing  careless  whist,  and,  for- 
getting that  C  had  the  king  turned,  played  the  ace  the 
first  round,  or  returned  it  after  the  successful  finesse,  C 
must  have  made  his  king.  Besides  giving  C  the  probable 
chance  of  making  one  or  both  of  his  small  trumps  by 
ruffing. 

The  trump  card  should  never  be  forgotten,  no  matter 
how  small,  for  until  it  is  played  you  know  the  position 
of  this  trump,  and  this  information  is  sometimes  worth 
several  tricks.  Suppose  the  5  is  turned  by  partner.  You 
call,  holding  k,  qu,  and  three  small.  Partner  answers  by 
leading  the  ace,  and  follows  with  the  deuce.  You  know, 
if  the  opponents  follow  suit  in  these  two  rounds,  that 
they  can  have  no  more  trumps,  even  though  you  do  not 
recollect  a  card  that  has  fallen.  Partner  must  have  the 
5  and  one  more,  because  holding  ace,  5,  2,  only,  he  would 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  323 

have  led  the  ace,  then  5,  but  knowing  that  he  had  the  5 
turned  you  read  that  he  has  the  5  and  one  more.  Had 
you  failed  to  note  the  card  turned,  you  might  be  totally 
in  the  dark  as  to  where  the  other  two  cards  of  the  suit 
lay.  Remembering  the  card  turned  may  be  of  value  to 
you  in  various  ways.  Take  this  simple  case:  Partner  turns 
the  6,  the  opponents  lead  trumps,  you  take  the  second 
round.  In  these  two  rounds  your  partner  played  the  3 
and  4.  You  now  open  your  suit  with  ace;  partner  is  void; 
you  follow  with  a  small  one  knowing  he  will  ruff  with  the 
6 — the  card  turned. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  clever  strategy  based  upon  the 
knowledge  of  the  card  turned,  and  many  a  brilliant  play 
is  made  possible  by  it,  and  it  follows  that  it  should  not 
be  missed.  Make  it  a  rule  to  impress  upon  your  mind 
the  rank  of  the  card  turned,  before  a  card  is  played,  and 
while  it  is  lying  upon  the  table.  This  should  be  the 
first  tax  upon  your  memory, 


324  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER    X. 

OVERTRUMPING. 

THE  ordinary  whist  player  is  too  prone  to  jump  at 
every  trick  that  he  can  take,  simply  because  he  can  take 
it,  never  pausing  to  consider  if  he  may  not  have  a  better 
thing  to  do.  Such  players  play  the  hand  as  if  they  ex- 
pected to  take  the  thirteen  tricks.  No  trick  should  be 
taken  until  you  have  looked  the  field  over  carefully. 
It  will,  it  is  true,  mostly  turn  out  that  you  decide  to  take 
the  trick,  but  occasionally  you  will  see  your  way  clear  to 
refuse  to  take.  This  means  that  you  have  simply  de- 
ferred your  privilege  for  a  round  or  two,  and  by  the  play 
enabled  yourself  to  take  from  the  opponent  an  extra 
trick — by  way  of  interest. 

Only  the  experienced  whist  player  has  the  strength  to 
resist  the  temptation  to  overtrump;  the  novice  invariably 
takes  the  bait,  and  by  doing  so  may  ruin  a  great  game. 
The  veteran  calmly  examines  the  situation  in  all  its 
phases,  and  often  to  his  advantage.  He  reasons  that  if 
he  overtrumps  he  must  lead  something;  and  whether  he 
can  lead  to  advantage  is  a  matter  of  concern.  He  knows 
that  if  he  is  only  moderately  strong,  that  by  weakening 
his  trump  suit,  his  remaining  trumps  may  then  be  drawn. 
He  will  first  carefully  note  if  he  has  a  card  which  maybe 
thrown  away  to  advantage.  His  own  hand  only  will  not 
be  considered,  but  that  of  his  partner  as  well;  for  if  he 
does  not  overtrump,  his  partner  will  then  be  last  player 
to  the  next  trick — a  "  coigne  of  vantage."  The  adversary 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  325 

who  has  trumped  may  be  forced  to  lead  up  to  a  tenace, 
and  the  trick  at  once  recovered  and  a  trump  saved  for 
service  later  on.  It  is  very  often  best  to  refuse  to  over- 
trump your  adversary  early  in  the  hand  when  you  have 
just  four  trumps  and  a  strong  hand  besides.  You  are 
very  much  in  the  same  position  as  though  forced  by  ad- 
versary ;  if  you  overtrump,  your  hand  is  very  much 
weakened,  and  you  have  then  abated  your  chances  of 
getting  out  the  trumps.  By  injudicious  overtrumping 
in  such  situations  you  may  utterly  ruin  a  great  hand.  If 
you  do  not  overtrump,  partner  will  read  your  position, 
and  if  he  gets  in  he  will  lead  you  a  trump,  for  your  play 
demands  a  trump  from  partner. 

You  must  never  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  opposite 
you  sits  a. partner,  who,  like  you,  should  be  on  the  alert. 
The  trick  you  refuse  to  take  places  the  lead,  and  this 
may  make  a  clear  trick  for  partner,  and  you  are  left  with 
your  trumps  intact.  Besides  you  will  be  in  so  much 
better  position  to  claim  the  subsequent  trick  in  lieu  of 
the  one  you  passed.  As  a  rule,  you  do  not  pass  the 
opportunity  to  take  a  trick  by  overtrumping,  or  otherwise, 
if  you  clearly  relinquish  your  power  to  afterwards  take  a 
trick. in  its  stead — and  the  advantage  in  position  to  boot. 
Your  refusal  to  overtrump  is  in  the  nature  of  a  finesse  or 
underplay  for  position,  to  enable  you  to  take  a  trick  that 
you  otherwise  would  lose. 

As  a  rule,  you  gladly  embrace  the  opportunity  to  over- 
trump if  you  are  weak  and  the  adversaries  are  strong,  or 
if  you  are  strong  enough  to  overtrump  and  still  lead 
trumps.  In  whist,  as  in  chess,  the  end  from  the  opening 
must  be  in  view.  You  must  look  ahead.  Early  in  the 
struggle  a  plan  must  be  formed  by  a  train  of  careful 
reasoning,  and  the  final  success  prepared  for.  Prepa- 
ratory arrangements  must  be  made.  Players  who  play  for 


326  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

the  instant  trick  have  small  use  for  the  markers — their 
opponents  usually  do  the  scoring. 

Enough  has  been  said  under  this  head  to  put  the 
young  player  upon  his  guard  about  overtrumping  with- 
out first  carefully  analyzing  the  situation.  For  illustra- 
tions see  "  Critical  Endings." 


MODERN   SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


327 


CHAPTER  XI. 


BLOCKING    PARTNER    IN    THE    TRUMP    SUIT. 

WHILE  there  is  no  possibility  of  blocking  partner's 
trump  suit,  as  you  do  his  plain  suit — /.  e.,  prevent  him 
from  making  the  long  cards  in  it,  you  may,  however,  block 
him  in  his  endeavor  to  draw  the  opponents'  trumps. 
This  may  be  very  disastrous;  take  the  following  simple 
case: — 


*** 
*** 

*** 
*** 


*      * 
* 
*      * 

C 

B 
A 

D 

*  *  * 

1*  *  * 

*  *  * 
*   * 
^  ^   i 

*  *  * 
*  *  * 

*       * 

* 

.:.:•:•: 

^ 

*   * 
*  * 

*   1 

* 

_  +  J 

C  turned  the  9. 

i. — B  leads  k;  D  plays  2;  A  plays  3;  C  plays  5. 

2. — B  leads  10;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  4;  C  plays  6. 


3*8 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


B  showed  that  he  led  from  the  sequence  of  10  to  k 
exactly,  and  while  A  knows  that  the  10  led  by  B  will 
win,  he  must  not  thoughtlessly  play  the  4.  A,  here, 
blocks  his  partner,  for  when  B  goes  on  with  the  qu,  A 
must  take,  leaving  C  with  the  9;  and  C  may  make  the 
9  before  B  gets  in  again  to  draw  it.  Again:— 


*      + 
*      * 

B 
C                                D 
A 

*      * 

*      * 

*  *  * 

*  4-  * 

*  4-  * 
* 
*  4-  * 

*** 
*•* 

** 


i. — B  leads  kn;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  ace;  C  plays  4. 

The  play  of  the  kn  marks  the  k,  qu,  and  at  least  two 
others  with  B.  D  playing  the  Sis  notice  to  A  that  C  has 
most  likely  four  or  more  trumps.  A  should,  however, 
play  the  ace,  and — 

2. — A  leads  10;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  9. 

This  leaves  the  option  with  B,  who,  not  being  strong 
enough  to  take  the  10,  passes,  although  he  knows  that  A 
has  no  more  to  give  him,  B  must  take  the  chance  of  get- 
ting the  lead  to  draw  C's  rem'aining  trumps  before  C  may 
make  them  by  ruffing.  Had  B  held  the  9  he  would  then 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


329 


have  taken  the  10.  With  ace  and  two  more,  either  in 
trumps  or  plain  suits,  pass  the  kn  led  by  partner.  If  you 
suspect  that  your  partner  has  led  the  kn  from  weakness 
you  will  or  will  not  cover  as  it  may  suit  your  hand.  You 
should  at  all  times  be  on  the  alert  not  to  block  partner 
in  his  effort  to  exhaust  the  trumps.  You  may  sometimes 
deem  it  best  to  get  out  of  partner's  way  in  trumps,  even 
when  you  cannot  by  any  play  hinder  him  in  drawing  all 
the  trumps,  simply  to  avoid  the  lead.  As: — 


B 


D 


+*: 
:*: 


v 

:*: 


*  * 


i. — B  leads  7;  D  plays  3;  A  plays  ace;  C  plays  kn. 

2. — A  leads  2;  C  discards;  B  plays  qu;  D  plays  4. 

3. — B  leads  k;  D  plays  5;  A  plays  10;  C  discards. 

A  plays  the  10  here;  B  knows  that  A  must  have  the  8 
or  6,  and  that  he  evidently  does  not  want  the  lead.  A 
knows  that  B  must  have  the  9,  and  as  B  is  marked  with 
winning  cards  A,  very  properly,  plays  so  that  he  can 
avoid  taking  the  lead  from  B. 


330 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER    XII. 


THE    SUIT    ECHO. 

WHEN  trumps  have  been  exhausted,  or  when  the  oppo- 
nents are  leading  them,  or  at  any  time  when  it  is  evident 
to  partner  that  you  do  not  want  trumps  led,  you  can 
show  strength  or  a  master  card  in  a  suit  by  employing 
the  same  order  of  play  as  you  do  in  calling  for  trumps. 
Suppose  that  trumps  are  out,  or  the  long  ones  with 
partner  or  opponents,  and  partner  is  leading  his  winning 
cards  in  a  plain  suit — as  under 


B 


D 


* 


i. — B  leads  k;  D  plays  5;  A  plays  3;  C  plays  7. 

2. — B  leads  ace;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  2;  C  plays  9. 

A  shows  B  by  his  play  of  3  then  2,  that  he  has  the  qu, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  331 

and  B  goes  on  with  the  suit.  Negative  inference  may  be 
valuable  here,  for  if  A  did  not  echo  under  the  above  cir- 
cumstances B  would  change  the  suit,  knowing  that 
the  qu  was  surely  against.  The  inference  is  that  if  A 
could  assist  he  would  proclaim  it,  and  if  he  does  not  he 
says  to  partner,  "  When  you  play  your  master  cards  in 
the  suit  change  the  suit,  for  I  can  give  no  help  in  this 
suit."  This  play  is  often  of  great  value  and  is  very  prac- 
ticable. It  can  be  used  in  a  variety  of  ways  and  under 
widely  different  phases.  Suppose  partner  opens  the 
hand  with  kn  of  trumps;  you  have  not  one;  your  discard 
is  from  your  weakest  suit,  but  it  may  happen  that  it  is 
injudicious  to  do  so,  owing  to  the  unusual  character  of 
your  hand.  For  example,  you  hold  ace,  k,  10,  9,  8,  4, 
3,  d;  k,  qu,  10,  c;  k,  qu,  4,  h;  and  no  spade — trumps. 
It  would  not  do  to  discard  from  the  h  or  c  suit,  as  it 
would  greatly  impair  their  value,  and  as  you  have  no 
trumps  to  help  partner  you  must  give  him  all  the  assist- 
ance in  your  power  in  the  plain  suits.  If  you  discard 
the  3  d,  partner  will  read  this  as  your  weakest  suit,  but  if 
you  discard  first  the  4  then  3,  you  proclaim  it  as  your  best. 
Partner  will  so  read,  and  if  he  succeeds  in  exhausting 
the  trumps,  he  will  lead  you  a  strengthening  card  of  the 
suit,  and  a  great  game  will  follow.  It  matters  not  who  is 
leading  trumps,  you  can  show  your  great  suit  by  this 
play.  Take  the  above  example,  and  suppose  that  one 
of  the  opponents  opened  the  hand  with  trumps, 
then  your  discard  should  be  from  your  best  protected 
suit — the  diamond,  and  partner  would  read  it  as  such; 
but  it  is  unusual  to  make  more  than  one  discard  from 
your  great  suit,  as  you  make  the  one  discard  to  show  the 
suit,  and  then  change  to  your  weakest  suit  and  throw  it, 
if  practicable,  entirely  away.  Here  you  may  be  forced 
to  discard  three  or  possibly  four  cards  from  this  suit  if 


332 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


the  opponents  persist  in  trumps,  and  you  run  the  risk  of 
partner  reading  this  as  a  worthless  three  or  four  card 
suit,  if  you  discard  it  in  3,  4,  8  order.  In  fact  he.  must 
so  read.  He  would  reason,  in  the  event  of  your  making 
three  or  more  discards  from  the  suit,  "  This  must  be 
partner's  worthless  suit,  for  if  he  has  any  master  cards  in 
it  then  it  must  have  been  an  unusually  strong  one,  and 
he  would  have  echoed  in  it;  not  echoing  he  can  have  no 
more  of  the  suit."  Discard  in  this  order — 4,  3,  8 — and 
partner  will  read  the  play.  Here,  for  instance:— 


B 


A  opens  the  hand  with  qu  c,  trumps.  It  will  not  do 
for  D  to  discard  a  card  from  either  the  h  or  d  suits.  D 
knows  that  he  will  have  to  make  two  or  more  discards,  if 
A  persists  in  trumps.  The  spade  suit  is  absolutely  worth- 
less, and  D  must  discard  from  it  despite  the  rule,  and 
discards  from  the  lowest  up,  and  not  echoing  in  it 
partner  will  read  the  situation  and  give  D  fair  h  and  d. 
It  is  perhaps,  unnecessary  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that 
care  must  be  taken  that  you  may  complete  the  echo,  or 
that  you  can  show  that  you  had  an  opportunity  to  echo 
and  did  not,  or  you  may  deceive  partner.  If  you  are 
reasonably  sure  that  you  will  make  two  or  more  discards 
before  partner  gets  in,  you  run  no  risk.  If  you  are  not 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


333 


sure  of  this,  then  you  must  carefully  consider  the  sit- 
uation. 

When  you  echo  strength  in  a  suit,  or  a  master  card,  it 
is  direct  and  positive  information,  and  here  lies  the  great 
advantage  Negative  inference  may  leave  partner  in 
doubt  and  put  him  to  a  guess — a  choice  of  two  suits; 
but  there  is  no  mistaking  this  play,  and  it  often  enables 
you  to  preserve  intact  a  medium  weak  suit.  In  echoing  a 
master  card  in  a  plain  suit  that  partner  is  leading,  when 
he  knows  that  you  do  not  want  trumps  led,  you  have  no 
risk  to  run,  and  you  should  never  fail  to  make  the  play 
when  you  have  the  opportunity.  If  you  do  not  echo, 
partner  will  change  the  suit,  and  your  master  card  or 
cards  may  not  make.  If  you  do  not  echo  partner  must 
change  the  suit,  on  the  same  principle  that  if  you  have 
an  opportunity  to  echo  four  or  more  trumps  to  partner's 
call  or  lead,  and  do  not  do  so,  partner  must  give  you  less 
than  four.  Once  more: — 


**j; 

*  * 

4.  4. 

* 

*T+ 

*&* 

* 

* 

*** 

4.  4. 

4.  4. 

* 

B 

C                               D 
A 

**** 
**** 

*  *  * 
*   * 
*  *  * 

*  V 

.•_       iju      .%_ 
*1"     Tr     V 

334 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


i.— B  leads  k;  D  plays  ace;  A  plays  3;  C  plays  6. 
2  (B  to  lead).— B  leads  kn;  D  plays  7;  A  plays  5;  C 
discards. 

3.— B  leads  qu;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  4;  C  discards.     B 

now  gives  A  the  10, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  335 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

FINESSE. 

THIS  term  is  applicable  to  any  form  of  strategy,  tinder- 
play  or  artifice.  The  general  player  is  acquainted  with 
only  the  simplest  forms  of  finesse,  such  as  B  holding  the 
major  tenace  and  one  or  more  small,  to  a  low  card  led 
by  A,  plays  qu,  taking  the  chance  that  king  is  to  his 
right.  Many  players  imagine  that  finesse  is  an  artifice 
to  be  practiced  only  by  third  hand  ;  it  belongs,  however, 
to  every  seat  at  the  table.  Fourth  hand  may  refuse  to 
take  a  trick  ;  leader  and  second  hand  may  underplay. 
You  cannot  lay  down  specific  rules  governing  finesse. 
Finesse  belongs  to  the  highest  order  of  play,  and  can 
only  be  practiced  profitably  by  players  of  experience  and 
good  whist  judgment.  Rob  whist  of  finesse,  and  you 
take  from  the  game  its  greatest  charm. 

You  must  always  recollect,  when  planning  any  finesse, 
that  if  your  finesse  loses,  the  immediate  loss  is  nearly 
always  modified,  provided,  of  course,  that  your  finesse 
was  justifiable,  or  turned  into  a  gain  in  after  play;  for 
you  have  thrown  the  lead,  and  what  appears  to  be  the 
loss  of  a  trick  is  frequently  equivalent  to  a  gain  of  two. 
By  your  finesse  you  have  made  yourself  last  player  in  the 
next  round,  which  is  a  position  of  advantage,  and  you 
may  command  the  play  to  your  subsequent  gain.  Finesse 
may  not  be  considered  per  se.  If  B,  for  instance, 
finesses  against  only  one  card,  this  one  card — barring 
any  information  to  the  contrary — is  just  as  likely  to  be 


336  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

with  D  as  with  C,  and  the  chances  of  the  finesse  winning 
or  losing  are  exactly  even;  but  it  must  not  be  forgotten 
that  there  is  a  chance  of  B's  card  that  would  have  won, 
had  he  not  finessed,  not  making  afterwards,  so  that  if 
you  examine  any  finesse  from  the  single-suit  standpoint 
it  will  not  bear  analysis.  The  key  to  the  question  as  to 
whether  any  finesse  is  justifiable  must  be  found  in  the 
hand  of  the  one  who  makes  the  finesse,  viewed  in  con- 
junction with  the  stage  of  the  hand,  the  previous  play 
and  the  state  of  the  score.  All  third-hand  finesse  in 
partner's  suit  may  be  said  to  be  unsound  if  judged  from 
the  single-suit  standpoint,  but  this  is  not  the  key  to  the 
merit  of  a  finesse.  The  immediate  success  or  failure  of 
a  finesse  has  likewise  nothing  to  do  with  determining  the 
merit  of  the  play. 

The  varieties  of  finesse  are  infinite,  and  there  are  so 
many  things  to  be  considered  that  modify  or  render 
finesse  either  obligatory  or  out  of  the  question,  that  no 
attempt  will  be  made  to  do  more  than  give  a  few  general 
hints  and  illustrations.  The  art  of  finessing  must  be 
learned  from  long  experience  and  practice  with  fine 
players — not  from  the  books.  The  play  of  third  hand  in 
reference  to  finessing  in  plain  suits,  will  first  be  con- 
sidered. 

Finesse  Proper — Ace,  Queen.     (Third  Hand) 

The  simplest  form  of  finesse  is  the  finesse  proper;  /.  ^., 
to  a  small  card  led  by  partner,  you  holding  ace,  queen 
and  one  or  more,  finesse  the  queen.  This  finesse  you 
usually  make,  for,  if  king  is  to  your  left  guarded,  it  must 
make.  About  the  only  disposition  of  the  cards  which 
insures  a  loss  is  when  you  find  the  king  single  to  your 
left.  It  is  usually  unfortunate  when  any  finesse  loses  to 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


337 


the  only  card  opponent  has  of  the  suit.  Such  situations 
are,  however,  comparatively  rare,  and  generally  the  play 
and  the  character  of  your  hand  will  warn  you  when  such 
is  likely.  Early  in  the  play  of  the  hand  this  finesse  is 
nearly  always  right.  Holding  ace,  queen  only,  you  do 
not  finesse  for  the  reason  that  if  the  king  is  against,  you 
have  but  little  chance  of  catching  it  if  in  second  hand. 
If  you  hold  only  two  cards  in  the  suit,  the  king  is  almost 
sure  to  be  more  than  singly  guarded ;  besides,  if  you 
finesse  and  it  wins,  you  return  the  ace,  and  if  partner  has 
not  the  king  he  has  not  control  of  the  suit.  For  ex- 
ample : — 


B 


D 


*    * 
I**** 


*  *  * 


* 


*   * 


*   * 


*    * 


*  * 


i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  qu;  D  plays  4. 
2. — B  leads  ace;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  3;  C  plays  9. 
C  is  in  command  for  the  third  round,  and  A  must  lead 
another  round  in  order  to  clear  up  the  suit.     On  the 


338  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

other  hand,  if  B  plays  ace,  and  returns  the  queen,  it 
forces  the  play  of  k  and  leaves  A  in  command  for  the 
third  round.  The  earlier  in  the  play  of  a  suit  you  effect 
its  establishment  the  more  advantageous  it  is.  B  should 
endeavor  to  so  play,  no  matter  what  cards  he  holds,  that 
A  may  be  in  command  not  later  than  the  third  round. 
Gain,  in  the  suit  in  which  B  makes  the  major  tenace 
finesse,  is  much  more  likely  to  occur  when  B  holds  four 
or  five  cards  in  the  suit.  In  trumps  B  does  not  make  the 
major  tenace  finesse  if  (i)  partner  has  led  trumps  to  stop 
a  cross-ruff,  or  for  other  reasons  it  is  obviously  best  to 
have  two  rounds  at  all  hazards;  (2)  if  partner  on  the  first 
round,  second  hand,  puts  on  ace  to  a  small  card  led,  and 
then  at  once  leads  trumps,  you  should  play  ace  and  return 
qu  irrespective  of  the  number  you  hold,  as  partner's  play  is 
indicative  of  great  strength,  and  you  are  not  justified  in 
making  even  the  "  proper  finesse."  If  partner  had  made 
a  successful  finesse  it  becomes  your  duty,  if  expedient, 
to  follow  up  the  advantage.  Suppose  A  leads  a  small 
card,  and  B  wins  with  the  kn  or  10,  and  does  not  return 
the  suit,  A  must  give  B  the  opportunity  to  reap  full  ad- 
vantage of  the  finesse,  by  leading  the  suit  again  through  C. 

Ace,  Knave — Finesse. 

Holding  ace,  knave  and  others,  or  ace,  knave,  10,  the 
kn  or  10  is  a  fair  finesse.  You  credit  your  partner  with 
an  honor,  especially  if  an  original  lead  of  the  hand,  or 
his  first  lead,  and  your  finesse  is  against  one  card,  and  it 
is  an  even  chance  that  the  card  is  to  your  right.  It  is 
always  understood  that  the  play,  your  hand,  the  score 
and  the  stage  of  the  game  justify  finessing.  If  you  do 
not  have  a  good  reason  for  finessing  aside  from  the  bare 
idea  of  gaining  an  immediate  trick,  you  do  not  finesse — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


339 


but  play  ace.  Holding  ace,  knave  and  others,  or  ace, 
kn,  10,  you  do  not  finesse,  as  a  rule,  if  you  hold  more 
than  four  cards.  If  partner  has  led  from  strength  in  the 
suit,  that  is,  numerical  strength,  you  must  be  careful 
how  you  finesse  with  any  holding,  for  one  or  both  of  the 
opponents  must  be  short,  and  there  is  not  a  normal 
second  round.  If  partner  leads  a  small  card,  like  the  2 
or  3,  this  danger  is  not  imminent.  Take  this  case  : — 


*** 
*** 

*** 

*** 

+ 
* 

B 


T. — A  leads  3:  C  plays  7;  B  plays  10;  D  plays  4. 

B,  holding  the  deuce,  knows  that  A  has  led  from  just 
four  cards,  and  that  five  are  against;  here  the  suit  is 
likely  to  live  two  rounds,  besides,  if  B  has  a  fair  hand, 
he  will  now  lead  trumps.  As  the  cards  happen  to  lie, 
B's  finesse  is  a  clear  gain.  Reverse  the  cards  of  C  and 


340 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


D,  the  finesse  then  loses,  and  the  qu  makes.  It  must  be 
understood  that  B  would  not  finesse  the  10  here,  unless 
it  left  his  hand  in  good  condition  in  the  event  of  the 
finesse  losing.  If  B's  finesse  fails,  he  is  then  last  player 
to  the  next  trick,  and  if  this  is  not  an  advantage  to  B,  it 
is  one  good  reason  why  he  should  not  finesse.  You 
observe  that  B  should  not  finesse  singly  with  the  idea  of 
gaining  an  immediate  trick  by  the  play,  for  it  is  an  even 
chance  that  the  finesse  fails.  He  should,  therefore,  see 
more  than  this  mere  chance,  he  should  see  a  fair  chance 
to  gain  a  trick  in  the  subsequent  play  of  another  suit,  to 
compensate  him  in  the  event  of  his  finesse  ultimately 
losing  a  trick  in  the  suit.  Here  is  another  case: — 


B 


D 


:*: 


i. — A  leads  7;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  6;  D  plays  4. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  34! 

B  knows  that  A  has  either  k,  9,  8,  or  qu,  9,  8,  and  must 
either  throw  the  ace  or  pass  the  trick.  The  first  thing  B 
should  do  is  to  carefully  examine  his  hand.  He  knows 
it  is  an  even  chance  that  the  7  will  win  the  trick.  B  also 
knows  that  if  he  passes  (and  the  7  holds  the  trick)  A 
will,  if  he  has  even  a  fair  hand,  lead  trumps,  and  this 
feature  of  it  must  be  considered.  Then,  in  the  event  of 
the  7  losing  to  either  k  or  qu,  does  it  leave  B  in  good 
position  ?  These  are  the  things  that  B  must  weigh.  Now, 
suppose  that  B  holds  ace,  qu,  10,  4  of  trumps,  king,  kn 
and  small,  king  and  small  in  the  other  suits — he  decides 
at  once  to  pass,  for  if  the  trick  goes  to  D  his  position  is 
most  excellent;  for  no  matter  what  D  leads,  B,  most 
likely,  recovers  at  once.  There  is  this  in  favor  of  pass- 
ing— if  it  wins,  the  play  is  very  informatory,  as  A  reads 
that  the  suit  is  as  good  as  established,  and  with  a  fair, 
helping  hand  A  will  lead  trumps. 


King,  Knave — Finesse. 

Holding  king,  knave  only,  or  with  one  small,  play  king, 
and  return  the  knave,  and  let  partner  judge  if  the  finesse 
should  be  made — if  any.  Holding  king,  knave  and  two 
small,  to  a  small  card  led,  you  may  finesse  knave,  if  your 
hand  warrants  it.  If,  in  the  event  of  the  finesse  failing, 
throwing  the  lead  is  of  no  benefit  to  you,  do  not  finesse, 
for  you  are  rarely  ever  justified  in  making  any  finesse 
for  the  one  suit  alone. 


King,  Ten — Finesse. 

Holding  king,  10   and  others  to  a  small  card  led,  the 
10  is  a  good  finesse  at  times.     If   partner  leads  a  very 


342  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

small  card — say  the  2,  3  or  4,  and  you  hold  king,  TO,  or 
king,  10,  9  and  one  or  more  small,  and  you  are  in  a  posi- 
tion that  warrants  any  finessing,  the  10  or  9  is  a  fair 
finesse.  If  the  lead  is  from  a  suit  headed  by  the  knave, 
the  finesse  is  against  the  queen,  and  it  is  an  even  chance 
that  this  card  is  to  your  right,  and  your  10  or  9  forces 
the  ace.  If  both  ace,  qu  are  to  your  right,  the  finesse 
wins;  if  the  reverse  they  must,  of  course,  make.  If  you 
find  the  qu  to  your  left  the  finesse  may  result  in  loss,  it 
may  lose,  because  it  is  understood  that  the  finesse  is  not 
made  for  this  one  suit  alone.  If  partner  opened  the  suit 
with  qu  high  the  finesse  is  against  the  knave,  and  if  to 
your  right  the  finesse  is  in  your  favor,  if  to  the  left  it 
loses.  If  the  lead  is  from  the  ace  up,  and  the  qu,  kn 
are  both  to  your  right  the  finesse  wins;  if  to  the  left,  the 
finesse  may  lose  a  trick.  It  is  the  practice  of  most  play- 
ers to  avoid  finesse  in  partner's  suit,  and  the  rule  is 
sound  as  a  general  principle.  The  advantage  likely  to 
be  gained  from  throwing  the  lead,  in  case  the  finesse 
fails,  should  be  well  considered  before  making  this  or 
any  other  speculative  finesse. 

When  a  low  card  is  led,  you  know,  if  the  lead  is 
from  strength,  that  the  card  led  is  the  fourth-best,  and 
that  the  leader  has  three  cards  of  the  suit  higher  than 
the  one  led;  knowing  this  you  will  or  will  not  finesse 
against  one  card  as  the  situation  warrants.  When  part- 
ner's lead  is  from  evident  weakness,  your  finesse  may  be 
deep,  very  deep,  if  an  attempt  to  take  the  trick  endan- 
gers your  command  of  the  suit.  Suppose  the  following: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


343 


*'* 

*** 
*** 


B 


D 


*    * 

*** 
*** 


4.  4. 


i. — A  leads  9;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  qu. 

B  knows  that  the  lead  is  forced,  and,  unless  B  is  very 
anxious  to  have  the  lead,  it  would  be  folly  to  play  the 
ace,  although  B  knows  that  either  k  or  qu,  possibly  both, 
are  to  his  left.  B  can  gain  nothing  by  putting  up  the 
ace,  for  this  will  leave  both  king  and  qu  against,  and  he 
may  not  take  another  trick  in  the  suit,  besides  the  com- 
mand is  at  once  transferred  to  the  opponents. 

Finesse  is  not  confined  to  high  cards,  and  when  you 
get  far  into  a  suit  you  may  finesse  with  your  small  cards 
— say  with  7,  5,  you  finesse  the  5  against  the  possible  6. 
Besides,  if  you  have  carefully  noted  the  fall  of  the  cards, 
the  data  will  often  insure  you  against  any  possible  loss. 


344  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Finesse  Obligatory. 
Finesse  may  be  obligatory;  suppose  this  case; 


**** 


*** 

4»    4« 
4,    4, 


4,    4. 
* 


B 


** 

*** 
*** 


*++ 

4,     4. 

*** 


D 


* 
* 

- 

4» 

4« 

* 

* 

* 

i. — A  leads  3;  C  plays  9;  B  playw  qu;  D  plays  2. 

2. — B  leads  7;  D  plays  4;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  kn. 

A  makes  an  obligatory  finesse,  he  knows  that  the  ace, 
possibly  the  kn  also,  is  with  C,  but  he  must  play  the  8, 
or  he  will  not  take  a  trick  in  the  suit,  besides  giving  up 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


345 


the  command.  Finesse  in  this  form  is  often,  very  often, 
thrust  upon  you,  and  there  is  no  escape  from  it — the 
finesse  must  be  made.  This  arbitrary  form  of  finesse 
presents  itself  in  a  great  variety  of  ways,  and  should 
always  be  made,  or  you  lose  command  of  the  suit  and 
possibly  a  trick  or  two  besides.  Take  this  case: — 


*    * 

**+ 
*** 


B 


D 


v 

V 

*** 


*  * 


**** 
*    * 

!**** 


:*    *    * 


i. — A  leads  2;  C  plays  qu;  B  plays  ace;  D  plays  6. 

2. — B  leads  9;  D  plays  7;  A  must  play  the  4;  he 
knows  the  k  is  surely  to  his  left,  possibly  the  10  also, 
but  he  must  finesse  against  the  10;  to  put  up  the  knave 
would  be  an  egregious  blunder,  for  in  any  event  the  con- 


346 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


trol  would  be  lost  together  with   the  trick.     (D  should 
have  covered  the  9.)     Again: — 


*  * 

**+ 
*** 

*  * 


*  * 
*_* 

* 
._*  . 

B 


D 


*  * 


*** 

*  * 


*  * 

*  * 
* 


i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  3. 

2  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  9;  D  plays  10;  A  plays  6;  C 
plays  ace. 

A  refuses  to  put  up  the  qu  even  though  the  trick  is 
against  him,  trusting  that  C  has  ace  single.  A  trick  may 
be  lost  if  A  puts  up  the  qu,  even  though  C  has  three  of 
the  suit  originally.  Give  C  the  2  that  B  holds  in  the 
last  illustration,  and  then: — 

i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  4;  D  plays  3. 

2  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  9;  D  plays  10;  A  plays  6;  C 
plays  2. 

Now,  if  trumps  come  out  and  D  leads  the  suit,  either 
8  or  kn,  A  must  still  underplay  with  the  7,  and  if  A  leads 
it  he  leads  the  7,  and  must  make  the  qu.  Had  A  put 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


347 


up  the  qu  on  the  second  round,  he  must  have  lost  every 
trick  in  the  suit. 

Finesse  by  Trial. 

The  opportunity  for  making  this  form  of  finesse, 
second  hand,  is  of  very  frequent  occurrence,  and  is  often 
missed.  All  forms  of  finesse,  or  subtle  tries  for  gain 
away  from  the  routine  ruts,  require  skill  and  good  judg- 
ment, and  this  finesse  is  no  exception.  For  example: — 


*  * 

h  *  * 


* 

*  * 

*  * 


*  * 
* 

*  * 


B 


D 


*    * 


*      * 


*     * 


4-    * 


I. — A  leads  3;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  qu;  D  plays  2. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  4;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  6;  D 

plays  10. 

C  finesses  the  8,  speculating  that  the  k  may  be  with 
A  and  the  kn  with  D;  B  cannot  have  kn.     Care  must  be 


348 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


taken,  in  making  this  finesse,  in  plain  suits,  as  to  whether 
the  suit  is  likely  to  go  three  times  with  your  left-hand 
opponent.  When  you  make  this  form  of  finesse,  you 
should  usually  be  prepared  to  lead  trumps  at  once  in  the 
event  of  the  finesse  winning.  Partner  should  take  the 
cue  and  carefully  consider  the  advisability  of  a  trump 
lead  when  it  is  evident  that  partner  has,  as  here,  under- 
played, for  strength  in  trumps  is  always  a  justification 
for  this  finesse.  Take  this  instance: — 


*  * 
*  * 

* 
_*_ 

B 


D 


*** 

*  * 

*  * 

*  * 

*  * 

*  * 

I. — A  leads  6;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  k;  D  plays  3, 
2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  7;  C  plays  kn;  knowing  that 
B  has  not  the  qu.     This  is,  in  fact,  not  a  finesse,  but 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  349 

simply  correct  second-hand  play.  Again  :  Suppose  A 
leads  the  2,  from  qu,  9,  3,  2;  C  plays  4 — holding  ace,  10, 
4;  B  plays  kn;  D  the  k.  Now,  if  A  leads  the  suit 
again,  C  plays  10,  finessing  against  the  possible  qu  in  B's 
hand. 

Finesse  may  at  times  be  very  deep  to  make  or  save  a 
game.  You  will  often  find  yourself  in  a  position  where 
it  is  evident  that  nothing  but  deep  and  persistent  finesse 
will  save  a  trick.  Likewise  when  partner  leads  you  the 
highest  of  three  as  a  strengthening  play,  and  it  finds  you 
but  moderately  strong  you  may  finesse  deeply,  and  if  the 
suit  is  again  led — if  necessary — finesse  again,  and  in  this 
way  husband  your  strength  and  keep  control.  You  may 
at  times^  finesse  deeply  in  trumps,  particularly  near  the 
close  of  the  hand.  Finesse  in  the  first  few  rounds  of  the 
hand  is  mainly  speculative,  but  after  the  play  has  ad- 
vanced the  inferences  you  have  drawn,  both  positive  and 
negative,  may  often  direct  you  to  successful  finesse.  You 
may  finesse  upon  the  very  first  lead  of  all  as,  holding 
ace,  6,  5,  4,  3,  2,  you  lead  the  4.  Later  on  you  may, 
holding  the  long  trump  or  for  other  reasons,  lead  small 
from  ace,  k,  or  k,  qu  and  others,  trusting  to  partner  for 
the  first  trick. 

All  finesse  is  speculative,  and  while  finesse  has  been 
subdivided  under  different  heads,  the  various  modes  are 
all  strategic  tries  for  gain  that  may  be  classed  as 
theoretic. 


The  Rettirn  Finesse. 

This  form  of  underplay  has  been  termed  the  "return 
finesse."  It  is  finessing  upon  the  return  of  the  adversary's 
suit — leading  through  the  moderately  strong  hand  up  to 


350 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


the   announced  weakness  of    the  right-hand  opponent. 
Here  is  an  example: — 


3 


D 


v 

*  * 


*  * 


* 


I. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  10;  D  plays  kn. 

2. — D  leads  3;  A  plays  6;  C  plays  9,  B  plays  2. 

D  here  makes  the  return  finesse  and  C's  9  makes. 

3  (D  to  lead). — D  leads  4,  A  plays  7;  C  plays  k;  B 
renounces. 

D's  return  finesse  being  successful,  he  is  enabled  to 
count  the  hands  and  at  trick  three  again  leads  small 
through  A,  who,  by  the  finesse,  is  rendered  powerless. 


The  Finesse  on  Partner. 

You  may  finesse  on  the  return  of  partner's  suit,  forc- 
ing him  to  play  his  best  that  you  may  remain  with  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


351 


command.      This  at  times  may  be  very  advantageous. 
Suppose  the  following: — 


*   *  * 


*    * 


B 


*   * 

4.    * 

*&* 
*** 

* 

*   * 

4.    * 

i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  qu;  D  trumps. 

Eventually  trumps  come  out — B  in  the  lead;  he  reads 
that  he  is  longer  in  the  suit  than  A,  and  that  the  king 
must  make,  if  against. 

2. — B  leads  2;  D  renounces;  A  plays  kn;  C  plays  7. 

3. — A  leads  k;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  3;  D  renounces. 

A  now  leads  the  9;  B  wins  with  ace,  and  the  4  makes. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST, 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


UNDERPLAY. 

UNDERPLAY  is  a  species  of  finesse,  sometimes  called 
"holding  up."  It  is  an  artifice  practiced  by  the  expert 
— a  coup,  a  deviation  from  routine  play,  and  if  well 
judged  may  be  very  effective.  It  requires,  however,  the 
keenest  whist  perception,  and  the  most  accurate  sense  of 
the  situation  to  practice  it  with  profit.  The  purpose  of 
underplay  is  to  make  a  trick  or  more  that  could  not  be 
made  by  ordinary  conventional  play.  It  is  holding  up 
the  winning  card,  refusing  to  take  the  trick  or  finessing 
upon  the  lead.  It  may  be  made  by  any  player  at  the 
table.  Being  an  extempore  stratagem,  based  upon  the 
unusual  character  of  the  hand,  or  the  fall  of  the  cards, 
no  rules  can  be  formulated  to  meet  this  exigency.  The 
student  can  best  gain  an  idea  of  this  artifice  by 
examples. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


353 


Underplay  by  Leader. 


B 


D 


*  * 

*  * 
*_* 


*  * 
* 

* 

This  is  A's  best  suit,  he  has  five  small  trumps  and 
small  cards  in  the  other  suits.  The  hand  is  exceptional; 
if  he  leads  the  ace  the  suit  is  valueless;  he  opens  with  the 
fourth-best — a  departure  from  conventional  play;  ordi- 
narily the  ace  would  be  led.  Here  the  leader  finesses 
upon  the  lead — underplays. 

i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  kn;  D  plays  4. 

2  (A  to  lead). — A  leads  2;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  qu;  D 
plays  9, 


354 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


A  underplays  again — holding  up  the  ace. 
Second  hand  must  be  on  the  alert  for  this  finesse  by 
leader. 

Here  is  another  example  of  underplay  by  leader. 


*** 

*** 

*    * 

*  * 
*  * 

* 
* 

B 

*  ^ 

* 

*  * 

* 

*  * 

* 

C 

D 

4.  ^. 

+ 

* 

*1 

>> 

i 

* 

*! 

A 

D 

i.~A  leads  ace;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  9;  D  plays  2. 

2. — A  leads  4;  C  discards;  B  plays  kn;  D  plays  5. 

A  underplays  with  the  4;  the  first  round  disclosing  the 
fact  that  C  has  no  more;  B  the  kn  or  no  more  or  calling, 
and  that  D  has  four  more.  A  has  fair  strength  in  trumps 
and  does  not  object  to  taking  the  chance  of  forcing  B,  if 
he  has  none  of  the  suit.  A  knows  that  if  he  leads  thequ, 
C  will  most  surely  trump,  but  if  he  underplays  the  four 
C  may  risk  the  best  card  with  D. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


355 


Underplay  by  Second  Hand. 
Here  is  an  example  of  underplay  by  second  hand: — 


*A* 
*** 

*** 

*** 

*** 

*    * 
*    * 

*  *  * 

B 
C                              D 
A 

*  4-  * 
*  *  * 

.;.:•:.: 
* 
•:-.:-.:-.:- 

+ 

*** 

v 

*** 

*    * 
* 
*    * 

*    * 
*    * 

First  Trick. — A  leads  4;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  10;  D 
plays  kn. 

Second  Trick. — (A  to  lead)  A  plays  5;  C  plays  6;  B 
plays  7;  D  plays  k. 

C  underplays  the  second  round  trusting  the  trick  to  D. 
A  cannot  have  both  k  and  qu,  and  unless  B  has  finessed 
the  first  round,  D  will  win  the  trick  and  C  will  be  left 
with  a  tenace  over  the  leader.  D  should  here  lead  trumps 
even  if  moderately  strong  in  them,  and  when  they  come 
out,  or  when  B  is  exhausted,  D  will  lead  the  2  through  A, 
and  C  D  will  have  four  tricks  in  A's  suit. 


356 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Underplay — Third  Hand. 

The  difference  between  finesse  proper  and  underplay 
third  hand  is  usually  this:  you  finesse  with  the  hope  that 
your  finesse  may  win  the  trick;  you  underplay  knowing 
that  the  trick  will  go  to  fourth  hand — the  object  being 
to  place  the  lead.  Suppose  your  partner,  late  in  hand, 
leads  you  the  6 — trumps,  second  hand  puts  on  7;  you 
hold  k,  8,  3,  with  one  trick  to  make,  to  save,  or  win  the 
game,  you  play  8,  and  your  king  must  give  you  the 
needed  trick,  as  you  now  are  last  player. 


Underplay — Fourth  Hand. 

Fourth   hand   is,   perhaps,   in   the   best    position    to 
hold  up  or  underplay.     Suppose  this  case: — 


*** 

*** 

*** 
*** 


*    * 


*   * 


B 


*    * 
+* 


*:* 

*** 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


357 


First  Trick. — A  leads  k;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  3;  D 
plays  2. 

A  shows  (to  D)  but  qu  and  two  others  by  the  play, 
and  if  he  goes  on  with  the  suit,  giving  B  the  ace,  D 
makes  two  tricks  in  the  suit,  for  by  the  underplay  he 
preserved  to  himself  the  perfect  tenace.  Here  is  another 
phase: — 


**** 


**** 

*     * 

**** 


*  * 
* 

*  * 


B 


*v 

*  * 


D 


First  Trick. — A  leads  2;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  qu;  D 
plays  4. 

D  has  a  wretchedly  weak  hand  in  suit,  with  three 
trumps,  say — ace,  10,  3;  if  he  takes  the  trick,  he  must 
open  one  of  his  weak  suits,  and  he  notes  that  C  has 
played  the  7;  he  may  be  calling;  if  so,  his  trumps  are 
excellent  for  answering.  A  has  shown  but  four  in  suit 
by  the  lead  of  the  2. 

Second  Trick. — B  returns  k;  D  plays  ace;  A  plays  8; 


358  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

C  plays  3,  and  D  is  in  to  answer  the  call,  and  a  great 
game  may  result  from  D's  holding  up  the  ace  the  first 
round. 

Do  not  forget  that  you  must  do  the  closest  figuring, 
weighing  every  phase  of  the  situation  before  attempting 
to  gain  by  this  strategy.  If  you  do  not  exercise  suclt 
precaution  you  will  lose  more  tricks  than  you  will  gain. 
Coups  are  not  common,  neither  are  they  common  play, 
and,  to  be  successful,  must  be  practiced  with  the  most 
scrupulous  care. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  359 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE    DISCARD. 

You  must  exercise  care  and  good  judgment  in  dis- 
carding. This  is  a  matter  of  prime  importance.  Your 
first  discard  is  as  significant  as  your  original  lead.  There 
are  general  rules  governing  the  original  discard,  but  it  is 
impossible  to  formulate  specific  rules  for  second  and 
later  discards.  For  discards  late  in  hand,  you  must  be 
guided  by  the  fall  of  the  cards  and  the  character  of 
your  hand.  Many  a  game  is  thrown  away  by  injudicious 
discarding.  You  are  sometimes  put  to  the  discard  when 
you  have  no  data  to  direct  you,  but,  in  the  majority  of 
cases,  the  fall  of  the  cards  will  assist  you.  You  will  find 
that  the  subject  of  discarding  is  worthy  of  much  more 
consideration  than  is  usually  bestowed  upon  it. 

Original  Discard. 

Your  original  discard  is  from  your  weakest  suit,  the 
suit  in  which  you  are  the  least  likely  to  make  a  trick.  It 
is  understood,  however,  that  this  is  before  strength  in 
trumps  has  been  declared  by  the  opponents.  If  partner 
has  asked  for  trumps,  or  led  them,  it  does  not  affect 
this  rule — you  still  discard  from  your  weakest  suit.  If 
the  opponents  have  first  called  or  first  led  trumps,  your 
first  discard  is  from  your  best  protected  suit.  When 
trumps  are  declared  against  you,  you  play  a  defensive 
game,  and  husband  what  little  strength  you  have  in  your 
weak  suits—not  weaken  them  by  discarding  from  them. 


36° 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


When  trumps  are  declared  in  your  favor,  you  play  an 
aggressive  game,  fearlessly  weakening  your  weak  suits 
and  keeping  your  long  suits  intact.  If,  however,  at  the 
time  you  are  put  to  the  discard  it  is  demonstrable  to 
both  yourself  and  partner  that  the  balance  of  power  in 
trumps  will  ultimately  be  in  your  favor,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  your  opponents  have  first  called  or  first  led 
them,  your  discard  should  be  from  your  weakest  suit, 
and  partner  should  so  read.  So,  also,  if  partner  has 
called  or  is  leading  trumps,  and  the  fall  clearly  shows 
that  the  strength  and  command  of  trumps  must  in  the 
end  be  against  you,  you  should  put  yourself  upon  the 
defensive  and  discard  from  your  best  protected  suit. 
For  instance: 


:*: 


* 

*** 
*** 

*    * 


*** 
*    * 

*** 


B 


D 


*** 

*  * 

*  * 

•?•  * 

*  * 

•:•   4* 

First  Trick. — D  leads  2; 
plays  qu. 


A  plays  6;    C  plays  3;    B 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


36i 


Second  Trick.— B  leads  8;  D  plays  k;  A  plays  7;  C 
plays  5. 

Third  Trick  (B  to  lead).— B  plays  9;  D  plays  ace— A 
should  here  discard  from  his  weakest  suit,  and  C  from 
his  best  protected  suit,  for  although  D  first  led  trumps, 
the  command  and  numerical  strength  is  marked  with  B. 
Again,  suppose  D  deals  and  turns  the  8,  and  the  trumps 
lie  as  under — 


First  Trick. — A  leads  2;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  ace;  D 
plays  kn. 

D  shows  the  sequence  of  kn,  10,  9,  8. 

Second  Trick. — C  leads  k;  B's  discard  here  should  be 
from  his  best  protected  suit,  for  it  is  evident  to  A  and  B 
that  trumps  are  unquestionably  against  them.  Once 
more:  A  leads  3;  C  plays  2;  B,  having  no  trump,  dis- 
cards from  his  best  suit,  for  it  is  evident  that  nine  trumps 
are  with  the  opponents. 


362  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

There  is  a  dual  purpose  in  the  conventional  mode  of 
discarding,  for  it  points  to  your  weakest  and  strongest 
suits  in  either  a  positive  or  negative  manner,  and  this 
information  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  partner,  and, 
aside  from  imparting  this  information,  it  is  the  proper 
mode  of  play,  even  if  your  own  hand  is  only  considered, 
as  it  increases  your  chances  of  taking  tricks.  You  must 
bear  in  mind  that  it  is  your  first  discard,  made  before 
you  have  had  a  lead,  that  is  so  important.  If  you  have 
had  the  lead  before  being  put  to  the  discard,  the  suit 
you  opened  is  supposed  to  be  your  best  and  longest  suit; 
and  your  discards  then  may  be  such  as  you  deem  best, 
as  you  have  already  informed  partner  of  your  best  suit, 
and  should  you  subsequently  discard  from  the  suit  you 
originally  opened,  the  fact  remains  that  this  suit  was 
your  best  suit. 

Early  in  the  hand  it  is  dangerous  tounguardan  honor, 
or  blank  an  ace,  and  you  should  be  careful  about  dis- 
carding a  singleton.  It  may  turn  out  that  the  suit  of 
which  you  hold  a  single  card  is  your  partner's  great  suit, 
and  you  may  throw  away  the  only  chance  you  have  of 
getting  your  partner  in  the  lead  by  parting  with  this 
single  card.  If  trumps  are  in  your  favor  and  partner  is 
playing  the  strong  game,  you  may  then  with  less  hesita- 
tion unguard  the  honor  or  throw  the  singleton. 

If  the  play  reveals  the  fact  that  partner  has  no  card  of 
the  suit  you  wish  led,  or  that  it  is  unlikely  that  he  will 
get  in,  you  may  by  discard  show  it  as  your  weak  suit,  to 
induce  your  left-hand  opponent  to  lead  it  up  to  you. 

If  it  is  evident  t)iat  you  will  be  put  to  two,  three  or 
more  discards,  and  you  have  two  suits  of  about  equal 
strength  from  which  to  make  them,  it  is  generally  best 
to  select  one  of  the  suits  and  stick  to  it.  For  example: — 
Hearts — trumps — are  out,  and  one  of  your  opponents 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


363 


has  four  spades  to  bring  in — marked  in  his  hand.  You 
hold  four  each  of  clubs  and  diamonds,  say  qu  or  kn  up, 
and  partner  discards  from  say  clubs,  you  should  discard 
the  diamonds;  in  this  way  you  will  together  protect  the 
two  suits,  partner  keeping  his  diamond  suit  intact,  and 
you  the  club  suit. 

Discarding  from  Partner  s  Great  Suit. 

If  you  have  but  two  or  three  cards  of  partner's  great 
suit,  you  should  carefully  consider  the  situation  before 
you  discard  any  of  them  If  the  opponents  are  left  with 
the  thirteenth  trump,  they  will  not  part  with  it  if  they 
suspect  that  you  are  short  in  your  partner's  suit,  but  will 
hold  it  up  until  you  have  played  the  last  card  of  the  suit 
partner  is  bringing  in;  and  if  the  lead  is  subsequently 
thrown  into  your  hand,  you  will  have  no  card  of  the  suit 
to  give  partner,  and  loss  may  result.  The  following 
illustration  will  make  this  clear: — 


364  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

(B,  trick  8,  discarded  deuce  h.) 

D  has  the  thirteenth  trump — spades.  Eight  tricks 
have  been  gathered;  A  is  in  at  trick  9  and — 

Trick  Nine. — A  leads  kn  h;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  5;  D 
plays  10  d. 

D  refuses  to  part  with  the  last  trump — if  he  trumps 
this  trick,  he  loses  two  tricks. 

Trick  Ten. — A  leads  k  h;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  6;  D 
trumps. 

Trick  Eleven.— D  leads  k  d;  A  plays  7  d;  C  plays  3 
d;  B  plays  ace  d. 

B  must  now  lead  a  d  and  A  B  do  not  take  another 
trick.  But  suppose  B  had  discarded  the  8  d  at  trick  8 
instead  of  the  2  h,  it  is  then  evident  that  A  B  must  make 
three  tricks  out  of  the  five.  Here  bad  play  in  the  way 
of  discarding  loses  a  clear  trick.  If  B  had  held  four 
hearts  here  instead  of  three,  even  then  he  should  not 
have  thrown  one  of  them,  but  instead  the  diamonds  down 
to  the  ace.  All  B  needed  in  diamonds  was  the  single 
ace  for  re-entry,  and  it  did  not  matter  when  D  used  his 
thirteenth  trump,  A  B  could  lose  but  the  single  trick. 


Discarding  a   Trump. 

In  the  last  stages  of  the  hand  you  are  sometimes  put 
to  discard,  holding  a  winning  card  of  two  plain  suits,  the 
opponent  holding  a  losing  card  in  one  of  them,  but 
uncertain  which.  In  such  cases,  if  you  have  a  losing 
trump  that  will  be  drawn,  throw  it  away  if  the  oppor- 
tunity is  offered,  as  a  card  may  be  thrown  to  the  next 
trick  that  will  aid  you  to  make  the  correct  discard.  Sup- 
pose the  following: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


OOOO 

O     O 
OOOO 


!£>£>£> 
\f>    £>    £> 


B 


D 


Clubs  trumps;  D  is  marked  with  the  7,  6  and  a  losing 
heart  or  diamond  but  uncertain  which. 

Trick  Ten. — B  leads  k  s;  D  trumps;  A  undertrumps; 
C  plays  6  h. 

Here  A  properly  retains  the  winning  h  and  d,  and 
throws  the  losing  trump,  knowing  that  D  would  at  once 
draw  it,  trusting  that  C  may  throw  a  card  that  will  aid 
him  in  determining  the  one  unknown  card  in  D's  hand. 
A  knows  that  there  is  but  one  heart  in  play  other  than 
his  king,  and  when  C  throws  the  6  h,  it  marks  D  with  a 


366  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST, 

d  absolute.     D  now  leads  the  thirteenth  trump  to  which 
A  throws  the  k  h,  and  the  qu  d  makes. 


The  Discard  Echo. 

If  partner  leads  trumps  from  great  strength  in  them, 
and  you  are  forced  to  discard,  having  no  trumps,  and 
your  hand  is  so  constructed  that  you  must  discard  from 
the  very  suit  you  wish  partner  to  lead  you — when  he  has 
exhausted  the  trumps  of  the  opponents — echo  in  the  suit. 
For  example  : — Hearts  trumps,  you  hold  k,  qu,  kn 
spades,  qu,  kn,  10  diamonds,  ace,  qu,  10,  8,  7,  4,  3  clubs. 
Partner  opens  the  hand  with  trumps,  you  discard  first 
the  4  and  then  the  3  of  clubs,  and  partner  will  read  the 
play  and  will  at  the  proper  time  lead  you  the  best  club 
he  holds.  If  you  discard  the  3  and  the  4  from  the  club 
suit,  partner  will  read  it  as  your  weakest  suit  and  loss 
might  result. 


Unblocking  by  Discard. 

You  may  sometimes  block  your  partner's  great  suit  by 
injudicious  discarding.  It  often  occurs  that  partner 
opens  the  hand  with  a  trump  lead,  you  holding  but  one, 
two  or  three  trumps.  Now,  suppose  in  such  a  case  you 
have  good  strength  in  two  of  the  plain  suits,  and  fair 
strength  in  the  third;  you  assume  that  your  partner's 
strong  suit,  if  he  has  any,  is  the  one  in  which  you  are 
weakest,  and  your  discards  from  this  suit  should  be  such 
that  you  run  no  risk  of  blocking  him  in  the  event  of  its 
being  his  great  suit.  Your  suit  may  be  say  kn,  10,  9,  2, 
and,  if  you  suspect  this  suit  to  be  your  partner's  great 


MODERN   SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


suit,  yon  should  discard  the  9  and  then  the  10. 
following  illustration  will  make  this  clear : — 


367 


The 


B 


(6  c  turned  with  D.) 


368  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

First  Trick.— A  leads  k  c;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  4;  D 
plays  2. 

Second  Trick. — A  leads  kn  c;  C  plays  10;  B  plays  7; 
D  plays  3. 

Third  Trick. — A  leads  ace  c;  C  discards  a  d;  B  plays 
9  c;  D  plays  5  c. 

Fourth  Trick. — A  leads  qu  c;  C  discards;  B  throws  9 
h;  D  plays  6  c. 

B  reads  that  A's  suit  cannot  be  d  as  it  is  his  (B's)  best, 
besides  C  by  discard  shows  it  as  his  best.  If  A  has  a 
great  suit  it  must  be  h,  and  probably  a  very  long  one, 
for  A  can  have  but  few  if  any  d,  as  B  has  four,  and  C 
most  likely  had  five  originally.  B  very  properly  throws 
the  9  h,  preparing  to  get  out  of  A's  way  in  hearts.  If  he 
carelessly  threw  the  2,  he  would  block  a  great  game  for 
A;  for  in  this  case  the  qu  h  will  fall  the  first  or  second 
round,  and  B's  sequence  of  kn,  TO,  9  must  hopelessly 
block  A's  suit,  and  B  must  eventually  lose  two  tricks  to 
C  in  diamonds.  This  neat  point  in  discarding  may  occur 
in  a  variety  of  ways  and  at  almost  any  stage  of  the  hand. 

In  the  middle  or  end  hand  you  may  hold  the  ace 
(single)  of  a  suit  that  has  not  been  led,  and  the  play  may 
develop  that  partner  must  be  strong  in  the  suit — hold  k, 
qu  and  others  or  the  game  is  lost.  He  is  drawing 
the  last  trumps  from  the  opponents,  you  must  discard, 
you  hold  losing  cards  in  the  suits  in  which  the  adver- 
saries are  strong,  and  the  singleton  ace  in  the  suit  partner 
must  be  strong  in  to  win — you  should  throw  the  ace,  no 
other  play  will  save  the  game.  This  play,  it  is  true,  may 
possibly  lose  a  trick,  but  the  game  is  lost  in  any  event  if 
partner  has  not  control  of  the  suit.  For  an  illustration 
of  this  play  see  "  Critical  Endings." 

It  is  to  guard  against  situations  such  as  these  that  you 
do  not  blank  an  ace  by  discard.  Neither  do  you  throw 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  369 

away  a  singleton  early  in  the  hand,  for  you  may  find  this 
apparently  worthless  card  of  great  value  to  give  to  your 
partner  later  on,  if  he  shows  strength  in  the  suit.  Sup- 
pose C  shows  clubs,  D  spades,  as  their  suits;  you  hold  a 
singleton  in  hearts,  you  should  not  throw  it  away  with- 
out due  consideration;  for  if  partner  has  anything,  it 
must  be  in  the  suit  of  which  you  only  hold  this  single 
card,  and  he  may  have  no  card  of  entry.  The  oppo- 
nents will  not  lead  this  suit,  unless  forced  to,  and  you 
should  keep  this  single  card,  especially  if  you  have  a 
re-entry  card  in  the  opponents'  suits. 


General  Hints  on  Discarding. 

You  are  often  influenced  in  your  first  discard  by  know- 
ing about  how  many  discards  you  will  be  forced  to  make. 
Suppose  you  have  shown  partner  your  suit  by  opening 
the  hand  with  ace  then  kn;  partner  covers  the  kn  with 
king,  holding  four  cards  in  the  suit,  and  goes  in  to 
exhaust  trumps,  indicating  by  his  lead  that  he  has  also 
great  numerical  strength.  You  have  no  trump,  and  you 
know  that  you  will  be  put  to  at  least  three  or  four  dis- 
cards. You  hold  kn,  10,  8,  2  in  one  suit,  qu,  8,  3,  2  in 
the  other;  now,  if  you  discard  first  from  one  suit  and 
then  from  the  other,  you  greatly  weaken  both  suits.  In 
such  cases,  select  the  weakest  suit,  and  discard  only  from 
it,  throwing  it  entirely  away,  if  you  must,  and  keep  the 
one  suit  intact.  In  the  above  instance,  if  you  discard 
the  2  from  the  kn  high  suit,  and  2,  3  from  the  qu  suit, 
you  have  ruined  both  suits,  and  you  stand  but  little 
chance  of  taking  a  trick  in  either.  Suits  containing 
only  two  cards  are  of  very  little  value,  even  if  one  of 
the  cards  is  a  high  card;  for  instance,  k  and  one  small, 


37«  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

qu  and  one  small.  Such  suits  are  better  to  discard  from 
than  suits  of  three  cards  in  sequence  even  though  com- 
posed of  smaller  cards;  for  example,  kn,  10,  9.  Sup- 
pose you  have  kn,  10,  8,  2  c;  k,  3,  2  d;  qu,  8,  7  s;  with 
such  a  hand  as  this  discard  from  the  spade  suit.  If  you 
discard  the  2  c  you  have  no  suit  left.  If  you  must  dis- 
card again,  throw  another  spade. 

There  is  nothing  in  whist  that  requires  better  judgment 
than  discarding,  especially  in  the  endings.  Near  the  end 
of  the  hand  there  is  much  to  direct  you  to  the  proper 
discard,  but  you  must  very  frequently  summon  to  your 
aid  the  inferences  you  have  drawn  from  the  entire  play 
of  the  hand.  You  can  often  tell  what  a  player  cannot 
have  by  knowing  what  he  must  have.  Suppose  A  opens 
a  hand  with  the  k  of  spades,  then  leads  qu  of  clubs, 
then  ace;  then  2  of  hearts — trumps.  The  play  shows 
that  A  can  have  no  diamond.  The  student  may  ask, 
why  ?  Analyze  the  play:  A  leads  k  s,  and  stops  the  suit, 
he  has  ace,  kn  and  one  small;  qu  then  ace  c,  this  marks 
king  and  two  small;  then  2  of  hearts — this  shows  three 
more  trumps,  four  spades,  five  clubs,  four  hearts,  and 
there  is  no  room  for  diamonds  in  this  hand. 

Many  a  game  is  thrown  away  by  careless  discarding. 
To  be  sure,  at  times,  you  are  put  to  a  pure  guess,  but,  in 
the  great  majority  of  cases,  either  positive  inference  can 
be  drawn,  or  negatively  you  can  mark  the  suit,  and  the 
card  the  leader  must  have.  C,  for  instance,  knowing  that 
A  can  have  no  diamonds — as  in  the  above  cited  example — 
must  not  on  this  alone  throw  away  the  best  diamond,  for 
A  may  lose  the  lead  at  the  eleventh  or  twelfth  trick,  and 
in  this  event  B  and  D  must  have  d.  You  must  carefully 
consider  where  the  lead  is  likely  to  come  from.  An 
illustration  will  make  this  clear: — 


MODERN   SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


371 


4     4 

*4* 

4*4 


B 


D 


* 

4*4 
4.4 

4*4 


Suppose  that  A,  early  in  the  play,  showed  no  diamonds, 
and  that  trumps  (clubs)  are  out,  and — 

Trick  Eleven. — A  leads  ace  s;  C  plays  7  s;  B  plays  9 
s;  D  plays  5  s. 

Trick  Twelve. — A  leads  kn  s;  now,  if  C  throws  the 
ace  d,  simply  because  he  knows  that  A  can  have  no  d,  he 
loses  a  trick.  It  may  be  a  very  difficult  matter  for  C  to 
determine  where  the  lead  is  going  to,  or  whether  it  is 
better  to  keep  the  h  or  d.  The  point  is  that  A  will  lose 
the  lead,  and  it  is  a  question  who  has  the  qu  s.  If  C  can 
read  the  qu  s  with  D,  then  he  must  endeavor  to  reason 
out  from  the  previous  fall  if  D  is  more  likely  to  have  a  d 
than  a  h.  The  play  may  have  been  such  that  C  cannot 
read  D's  hand,  but  nearly  always  so  late  as  this,  the  cards 
can  be  located.  Situations  similar  to  this  are  of  frequent 
occurrence,  and  they  are  always  worthy  of  very  careful 
analysis.  It  is  in  such  situations  as  these  that  the  in- 


372  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.. 

ferences  you  have  drawn  come  to  your  aid  and  saves  you 
the  one  trick  that  is  to  be  played  for — the  one  trick  that 
the  player  who  is  unable  to  read  the  cards  will  nearly  al- 
ways lose. 

When  you  discard  the  best  card  of  a  suit  in  play,  you 
can  have  no  more,  all  trumps,  or  absolute  control  of  the 
suit.  For  example,  you  hold  a  sequence  of  10  to  ace  in 
a  suit;  you  may  discard  the  ace  and  show  partner  that 
you  have  command.  If  you  discard  the  second-best 
card  of  a  suit  you  show  no  more,  except  in  a  situation 
in  which  you  were  throwing  high  cards  to  avoid  taking 
the  lead. 

Care  should  be  taken  in  reference  to  discarding  a  high 
card  of  a  suit  not  yet  in  play,  even  though  you  know  the 
card  must  lose.  It  exposes  your  weakness  in  the  suit 
and  it  may  subject  you  to  adverse  finessing  on  the  part 
of  your  right-hand  opponent  who  will,  if  the  suit  comes 
up  to  him,  finesse  deeply,  and  in  this  way  may  catch  a 
card  of  the  suit  in  your  partner's  hand  that  would  other- 
wise have  made  had  you  not  exposed  your  weakness  in 
the  suit.  It  is  always  dangerous  to  discard  a  singleton 
when  you  are  void  of  trumps,  for  when  this  suit  is  led 
your  poverty  is  exposed  upon  the  first  round,  and  if  the 
suit  is  led  through  your  partner,  your  right-hand  oppo- 
nent has  simply  to  cover  your  partner's  card,  and  in  this 
way  a  trick  or  more  may  be  lost.  It  is  always  injudicious 
play  to  expose  your  utter  weakness  in  a  suit,  and  it  is 
likewise  often  weak  play  to  publish  that  you  have  abso- 
lute control  of  a  suit.  For  example — discarding  the  ace 
from  a  suit  not  yet  in  play.  When  the  game  is  well  ad- 
vanced your  judgment  of  the  situation  will  determine  for 
you  whether  it  is  wise  to  publish  information  either  as 
to  your  strength  or  weakness.  So  soon  as  your  partner 
has  shown  his  inability  to  assist  you  in  any  way,  it  is  then 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  373 

evident  folly  to  post  your  two  watchful  adversaries,  who 
are  on  the  alert  to  take  advantage  of  either  your  strength 
or  weakness,  for  the  enemy  may  profit  by  knowing  where 
your  strength  lies  by  avoiding  it — striking  where  you 
are  weak. 

Getting  rid  of  the  command  of  your  partner's  suit  by 
discard,  and  at  the  proper  moment,  requires  great  care 
and  good  judgment,  and  a  failure  in  this  regard  is  usually 
very  expensive.  Retaining  kings  and  queens  with  miserly 
covetousness,  and  throwing  treys  and  deuces  is  often 
anything  but  economy.  He  is  a  wise  player  who  knows 
when  he  is  powerful  only  for  harm  and  gets  rid  of  his 
superfluous  strength,  and  equally  bright  is  the  player  who 
turns  to  good  account  his  very  weakness. 

It  not  infrequently  happens  that  in  the  end  hand  you 
have  a  very  long"  suit  which  it  is  evident  that  you  cannot 
make  entire.  It  is  absurd  to  retain  this  suit  intact  and 
run  the  risk  of  loss  by  discarding  your  weak  suit  or  suits, 
for  even  a  card  like  the  9  or  10  may,  if  retained,  either 
win  a  trick  or  force  a  high  card  from  the  enemy,  thus 
making  good  a  card  of  lower  rank  for  partner.  (For  an 
illustration  of  this,  see  "Critical  Endings.") 


374  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

LEADING    TO    THE    DISCARD. 

THERE  are  three  modes  of  leading  to  the  discard,  all 
of  which  should  be  thoroughly  understood.  The  dis- 
card affords  a  very  practical  means  of  communication. 
Through  this  medium  the  player  conveys  information, 
either  positive  or  negative  in  character.  First: 

Leading  to  Partner  s  Discard. 

Your  partner's  first  discard — if  made  before  any  decla- 
ration of  trumps,  or  if  trumps  are  pronounced  in  your 
favor — is  from  his  weakest  suit.  This  is  positive,  and  it 
negatively  points  to  the  suit  or  suits  in  which  he  has 
strength.  If  the  preponderance  of  strength  in  trumps  is 
with  the  adversaries,  your  first  discard  is  from  your 
strongest  and  best  protected  suit.  This  is  also  positive 
information,  and  your  partner  reads  that  the  other  suit 
or  suits  are  weaker  than  the  one  from  which  you  have 
discarded.  It  follows  that  if  partner,  in  this  way.  shows 
you  his  best  suit  he  invites  you  to  lead  that  suit,  and  you 
should,  in  almost  every  instance,  lead  him  the  best  card 
you  have  of  the  suit  as  a  strengthening  card.  If,  how- 
ever, you  are  obviously  longer  in  the  suit  than  he  is,  you 
may  lead  your  fourth-best,  that  your  suit  may  not  be 
blocked.  This  is  about  the  only  exception  to  leading 
your  best  card  to  partner's  pronounced  suit. 


MODERN   SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  375 

If  partner  has  shown  his  weakest  suit  you  will,  of 
course,  not  lead  from  this  suit,  unless  you  are  forced  to 
do  so.  When  partner  has  shown  his  weakest  suit  by  dis- 
card, you  may  have  to  make  a  choice  between  two  suits, 
but  generally  the  play — especially  the  discards  of  the 
opponents,  if  any, — will  direct  you  to  the  suit  that  he  is 
more  likely  to  have  strength  in.  When  you  lead  a  suit 
that  you  judge  through  negative  inference,  is  your  part- 
ner's strongest  suit,  lead  the  highest  of  any  three  cards; 
if  you  have  more  than  three,  usually  open  the  suit  con- 
ventionally. When  partner  has  absolute  command  of  a 
suit,  he  will  discard  the  master  card  of  the  suit,  and  you 
can  lead  the  suit  with  the  assurance  that  he  can  take 
care  of  it  unassisted.  If  partner  discards  the  king  or  any 
card  the  second-best  in  play,  he  has  no  more  of  the  suit, 
and  this  information  may  be  of  great  advantage  to  your 
game.  If  your  adversaries  have  been  put  to  the  discard, 
and  your  partner  has  not,  their  discards  point  to  their 
suits,  and  the  suit  marked  as  their  weakest  is  obviously 
your  partner's  best,  and  in  this  way  you  are  frequently 
directed  to  his  suit.  Again  .your  partner's  suit  may  be 
proclaimed  in  a  negative  way  by  your  opponents  open- 
ing their  suits — if  C  opens  clubs,  D  spades;  you  holding 
hearts;  partner  (B)  must  have  diamonds,  if  anything. 
Second: 

Leading  to  Adversaries'  Discard. 

The  second  mode  of  leading  to  the  discard,  is  to  lead 
the  suit  in  which  your  right-hand  opponent  has  shown 
weakness — that  is,  you  lead  up  to  announced  weakness. 
You  must  do  this,  sometimes,  as  the  best  thing  avail- 
able, and  you  should  do  this  in  preference  to  a  hap- 
hazard lead,  especially  if  you  care  to  have  the  lead  with 
your  left-hand  adversary. 


376  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Third:  You  will  often  find  that  your  best  resource  is 
to  lead  through  the  strong  hand  (declared  by  discard), 
of  your  left-hand  opponent.  His  suit  may  be  but  mod- 
erately strong,  and  if  you  can  lead  from  a  sequence  of 
two  or  three  cards  like  kn,  10,  or  10,  9,  8,  it  may  force 
him  to  give  up  command,  if  he  attempts  to  take  the 
trick.  In  the  event  of  having  nothing  better  at  com- 
mand you  will  lead  either  through  proclaimed  strength, 
or  up  to  published  weakness.  Of  course,  if  you,  as  A, 
can  lead  a  suit  C  has  shown  as  his  best,  and  D  has 
marked  as  his  weakest  suit,  your  advantage  is  twofold. 
You  are  leading  through  strength  up  to  sure  weakness, 
and  if  C  does  not  attempt  to  take,  your  partner  B  can 
finesse  against  the  proclaimed  weakness  of  D. 

It  will  be  seen  that  it  is  very  important  to  note  the 
discards  of  your  adversaries  as  well  as  of  your  partner, 
and  also  the  manner  of  discarding.  For  instance:  C  is 
leading  trumps  and  D  discards  a  spade,  do  not  at  once 
dismiss  this,  and  jump  at  the  conclusion  that  D's  weakest 
suit  is  spades — it  may  be  his  best, — for  D  may  echo  great 
strength  in  this  suit  by  the  order  of  his  discards.  (See 
"  The  Suit  Echo.")  Every  card  discarded,  no  difference 
by  whom,  should  be  carefully  noted  and  the  inference 
drawn.  Suppose  your  opponents  have  discarded  two 
hearts,  you  hold  five,  partner  shows  four — the  suit  can 
go  but  once  at  best.  This  is  simplicity  itself,  but  if  you 
do  not  note  and  mentally  record  the  discards,  you  can- 
not know  even  the  most  simple,  yet  at  the  same  time 
very  important  things,  and  consequently  you  will  make 
the  most  egregious  blunders.  You  cannot  escape  mak- 
ing very  stupid  plays,  unless  you  equip  yourself  with  all 
the  inferences  elicited  by  the  play. 

If  you  lead  the  3,  C  puts  on  the  4;  your  partner  kn; 
and  D  takes  with  k,  you  must  make  a  note  of  the  fact 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  377 

that  D  does  not  hold  the  qu,  and  this  inference  must  not 
be  dismissed  until  the  qu  is  played.  No  card  can  fall 
that  does  not  publish  some  information;  it  may  be  of 
little  importance,  or  again  of  the  greatest  value.  The  best 
players  fail  to  catch  all  the  cards  have  to  say,  the  best 
are  those  who  miss  the  fewest  words.  You  must  be 
extraordinarily  attentive  to  the  cards  to  play  the  best 
whist,  no  matter  how  clever  you  may  be. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

FORCING. 

WHEN  to  force  and  when  not  to  force  your  partner  is 
a  vexed  question  with  the  authorities.  At  best  the  forc- 
ing game  is  a  poor  one.  It  is  a  cheap  way  of  making 
tricks.  There  are  comparatively  few  hands  where  the 
best  play — the  play  which  will  make  the  most  tricks — 
renders  it  necessary  to  deliberately  force  your  partner. 
Playing  for  a  ruff  or  cross-ruff  is  cheap  whist,  and  very 
often  results  in  loss,  even  when  the  ruff  is  established. 
There  is  nearly  always  a  better  line  of  play  possible. 
When  in  the  judgment  of  a  fine  player  a  force  is  the  only 
way  to  make  all  the  tricks  possible — the  force  will  be 
offered,  and  if  partner  has  reasons  for  thinking  other- 
wise, he  will  not  take  it,  and  will  show  by  discard  his 
object  in  not  taking  it.  The  best  players  always  con- 
sider the  best  way  the  handsome  way  of  gaining  the 
same  number  of  tricks.  If  there  are  two  ways  of  making 
the  same  number  of  tricks,  the  fine  player  will  select  the 
more  brilliant  way. 

You  cannot  lay  down  unvarying  rules  applicable  to 
the  finer  points  of  whist.  There  are  thousands  of  fine 
points — the  delicate  touches — that  the  books  may  never 
reach;  the  really  splendid  things  you  must  learn  from 
practice  with  fine  players. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  379 

Forcing  Partner. 

Some  general  rules,  with  comments,  which  apply  to 
forcing  partner,  follow  : — 

i.  Do  not  force  your  partner  when  you  are  weak  in 
trumps. 

This  is  a  good  general  rule  and  should  rarely  be  vio- 
lated. It  applies,  of  course,  to  the  early  part  of  the 
hand,  before  there  has  been  any  declaration  of  strength 
or  weakness.  The  object  in  not  forcing  your  partner 
when  you  are  weak  in  trumps  is  obvious;  you  weaken 
him,  and  strengthen  the  opponents.  For  instance,  if  you 
force  your  partner,  you  holding  but  two  trumps,  and 
your  partner  takes  the  force  holding  four,  this  at  once 
leaves  one  of  the  adversaries  with  the  long  trump.  No 
play  is  more  likely  to  ruin  your  partner's  hand  than  to 
force  him  when  you  are  weak  in  trumps.  For  the  sake 
of  the  instant  trick,  made  by  the  force,  you  may  render 
comparatively  worthless  a  good  hand,  and  at  once  place 
yourself  and  your  partner  at  the  mercy  of  the  adversaries. 
You  capture  the  one  cheap  trick  at  too  great  a  risk.  It 
may  be  said,  "  Give  partner  the  opportunity  to  make  a 
little  trump,  he  may  be  weak;  if  so,  he  gladly  takes  the 
force;  if  he  is  but  moderately  strong  let  him  refuse,  if 
he  deems  it  best."  But  the  objection  to  this  is  that  it 
conflicts  with  the  generally  recognized  convention  of  the 
game — viz.,  that  you  do  not  force  your  partner  when  you 
are  weak  yourself  in  trumps.  The  order  for  play  is  in- 
formatory;  for  if  you  do  intentionally  force  your  partner, 
he  reads  at  once  that  you  have  sufficient  strength  to  take 
care  of  the  adversaries  in  the  trump  suit,  and  he  will- 
ingly takes  the  force,  and,  as  a  rule,  is  justified  in  at  once 
leading  you  his  best  trump,  as  in  answer  to  the  call,  for 


380  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

by  your  forcing  him  you  have  virtually  made  a  trump  re- 
quest. If,  on  the  other  hand,  you  refrain  from  forcing 
him,  when  the  opportunity  to  do  so  is  evident,  you 
negatively  inform  him  of  your  weakness  in  trumps.  The 
information  in  either  case  is  valuable.  The  negative  in- 
formation imparted  by  conventional  play  is  often  as 
absolute  as  the  positive.  But  here,  if  you  do  not  gener- 
ally respect  the  conventional  order — offering  partner  the 
force  whether  strong  or  weak  in  trumps,  you  perplex 
him,  and  he  may  take  when  it  will  ruin  his  game,  and 
pass  when  it  will  ruin  yours. 

2.  You  may  force  partner  when  you  are  strong  in 
trumps. 

You  must  use  discretion  in  the  application  of  this  rule. 
It  may  be  well  for  you  to  force  partner  having  great  or 
fair  strength  in  trumps,  and  again  it  may  not  be  the 
best  play.  The  rule  holds  good  in  most  cases,  but  there 
may  come  a  hand  in  which  there  is  a  better  way.  It  is 
often  better  play  to  give  partner  a  strengthening  card  in 
the  suit  that  he  has  shown  to  be  his.  If  you  force  him, 
there  is  some  risk  attending  upon  it.  He  may  have  no 
trump,  or  be  overtrumped  ;  besides  you  must  bear  in 
mind  that  if  partner  does  succeed  in  getting  in  his  trump, 
that  he  must  then  lead  something,  and  you  should  care- 
fully consider  what  this  lead  is  most  likely  to  be,  and  its 
effect  upon  the  play  of  the  combined  hands.  The  point 
is  that  you  must  not  jump  at  the  opportunity  to  force 
partner  simply  because  the  chance  is  offered,  even  if  you 
do  have  strength  in  trumps  ;  first  consider  all  the  dif- 
ferent phases  of  the  situation,  before  you  do  so.  The 
strength  in  trumps  to  justify  you  in  forcing  partner  early 
in  the  play  of  the  hand,  should  usually  be  such  that  you 
feel  reasonably  sure  of  being  able  to  resist  any  attempt 
the  opponents  may  make  to  exhaust  them. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  381 

3.  You   may  force  partner,   though    weak   in   trumps, 
when  he  has  shown  a  desire  to  be  forced. 

Partner  may  inform  you  in  a  number  of  ways  that  he 
does  not  object  to  being  forced.  For  example:  (i)  He 
trumps  a  doubtful  card;  (2)  lie  has  the  opportunity  of 
forcing  you  and  does  not;  (3)  he  returns  to  you  the  last 
card  he  has  of  your  suit  in  preference  to  opening  his 
own  suit;  (4)  returns  the  opponents'  lead  when  it  is 
evidently  not  for  the  purpose  of  leading  through  the 
strong  up  to  the  weak  hand;  (5)  refuses  to  lead  trumps, 
although  he  has  a  great  suit  of  his  own,  or  knows  that 
you  have  an  established  suit; — all  these  indicate  that  he 
does  not  object  to  being  forced,  and  some  of  them  are 
equivalent  to  asking  you  to  force  him,  if  you  think  best. 
If  partner  trumps  a  winning  card  of  the  opponents,  you 
must  not  take  it  for  granted  that  he  is  weak  in  trumps 
and  therefore  force  him.  If  you  have  nothing  better, 
you  may  offer  him  the  chance,  but  the  fact  that  he 
trumped  a  sure  winning  card  does  not  necessarily  imply 
that  he  desires  to  be  forced. 

4.  When  a  see-saw  is  evident. 

Usually  when  the  opportunity  for  a  double  ruff  pre- 
sents itself  it  should  be  taken  advantage  of,  but,  even  in 
this  case,  care  should  be  taken.  You  should  consider 
how  long  the  ruff  is  likely  to  live.  If  the  ruff  is  brought 
about  by  you  having  one  great  suit,  partner  another,  you 
should  weigh  well  the  chances  of  your  ability  to  draw 
the  trumps,  for  you  may  sacrifice  the  opportunity  for  a 
splendid  game  by  thoughtlessly  snapping  at  a  few  tricks, 
when  by  a  higher  order  of  play  you  may  do  much  better. 
Few  players  have  the  strength  to  resist  the  temptation 
to  indulge  in  a  see-saw,  as  the  alternate  trumping  of 
partners  has  the  appearance  of  making  tricks  as  ecomi- 
cally  as  possible;  and  this,  in  (act,  is  true,  when  each  of 


382  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

the  partners  is  weak  in  trumps — say  each  three  only,  but 
if  one  of  the  partners  has  four  fair  trumps,  and  a  great 
suit  besides,  the  see-saw  may  cost  several  tricks. 

5.  When  great  strength  in  trumps  is  declared  against 
you. 

The  mere  fact  that  one  of  the  adversaries  has  called, 
is  not  alone  a  sufficient  ground  for  you  to  force  partner, 
particularly  if  you  are  very  weak  in  trumps.  The  fact  of 
your  being  very  weak  would  indicate  that  your  partner 
is  just  so  much  the  more  likely  to  be  fairly  strong. 
Usually,  however,  it  is  best  to  offer  partner  the  oppor- 
tunity, and  he  will  exercise  his  own  judgment  about  tak- 
ing the  force.  He  will  feel  at  liberty  to  refuse,  knowing 
that  you  have  forced  him,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
adversary  has  asked  for  trumps.  If  he  doest  not  take 
the  force,  his  discard  will  most  likely  afford  you  valuable 
information,  and  it  will,  at  least,  apprise  you  of  the  fact 
that  he  is  strong  enough  in  trumps  to  justify  him  in  hoping 
to  be  able  to  resist  the  adversaries  in  their  effort  to  ex- 
haust them,  and  you  must  then  play,  if  possible,  to  pre- 
vent his  being  forced,  and  in  every  way  protect  and 
strengthen  him.  If  one  of  the  opponents  calls,  and  the 
other  echoes  strength,  it  is  then  evident  that  your  partner 
can  make  no  defense  in  the  suit,  and  you  may,  usually, 
unhesitatingly  force  him.  So  also  if  the  opponents  in 
leading  trumps  show  such  strength  that  you  know  your 
partner's  trumps  must  fall,  you  will,  of  course,  play  for  a 
ruff. 

6.  You  may  force  your  partner  when  you  need  but  a 
single  trick  to  make  or  save  the  game. 

It  may  happen  that  the  opportunity  to  force  partner 
presents  itself  when  you  need  but  a  single  trick  to  make 
or  save  a  game,  and  if  there  is  a  possibility  of  your  not 
being  able  to  make  the  trick  in  any  other  way,  you  will, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  383 

of  course,  offer  him  the  chance  of  making  it  by  the 
force. 

7.  Force  partner  when,  in  your  judgment,  the  situation 
is  a  justification  for  doing  so. 

This  rule  embraces  the  other  six,  and  carries  us  back 
to  the  starting-point.  It  emphasizes  the  fact  that  when 
to  force  and  when  not  to  force  the  partner  must,  in  a 
great  measure,  be  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  player.  So 
much  depends  upon  the  character  of  your  hand,  the 
situation,  the  score,  the  stage  of  the  play  and  the  infer- 
ences drawn  from  the  fall  of  the  cards,  that  no  set  rules 
will  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  case. 

The  foregoing  instructions,  in  reference  to  forcing 
partner,  apply  with  greater  force  to  the  early  stages  of 
the  hand.  When  the  hand  is  developed,  the  player  of 
good  whist  perception  will  not  miss  the  opportunity  to 
force  partner,  if  it  is  the  best  play  the  situation  affords. 
In  exceptional  situations  you  may  find  it  expedient  to 
force  partner,  even  when  you  do  not  have  a  trump,  and 
again  you  may  abstain  from  forcing  him,  although  you 
have  five  or  six.  The  general  rules  given  are  as  good  as 
may  be  devised,  and  the  student,  especially,  should 
adhere  to  them,  as  he  will  nearly  always  be  right.  The 
advanced  player  will  follow  them  in  the  absence  of  any 
information  afforded  by  the  play  to  warrant  him  in 
departing  from  them;  but  he  knows  when  to  depart  from 
the  rules,  as  he  also  knows  that  all  rules  and  maxims 
stand  second  to  the  fall  of  the  cards.  No  rule  should 
be  allowed  to  get  the  better  of  your  judgment.  For 
example:  "  Do  not  force  partner  if  you  are  weak  in 
trumps,"  is  a  good  general  rule,  and  particularly  forcible 
in  the  first  few  rounds  of  the  hand,  but  do  not  let  even 
this  rule  run  away  with  your  judgment,  for  sometimes  it 
is  very  good  play  to  lead  the  suit  partner  is  out  of-^ 


384  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

giving  him  the  option  of  taking  the  force,  especially  if 
you  think  that  you  must  lose  the  trick  in  this  suit  in  any 
event,  for  then,  if  partner  refuses  to  take  the  force,  no 
harm  is  done. 

Forced  by   the  Adversary. 

When  you  are  forced  by  the  opponent,  or  uninten- 
tionally forced  by  partner,  your  proper  play  is  a  matter 
of  great  concern,  and  good  judgment  must  be  exercised. 
When  you  are  forced,  intentionally  or  otherwise,  by  your 
opponent,  second  hand,  your  position  is  one  worthy  of 
due  deliberation. 

It  is  often  right  to  refuse  to  take  the  force  or  over- 
trump the  adversary,  when  it  occurs  early  in  the  hand, 
and  you  have  just  four  trumps  and  a  fair  hand  besides. 
When  you  do  refuse,  partner  will  read  your  hand  as 
above,  and  will  lead  you  a  trump  at  the  first  opportunity, 
as  you  can  make  no  more  positive  request  for  trumps 
than  this.  If  you  trump  in  a  situation  like  the  one  just 
cited,  you  very  materially  prejudice  your  chances  of  a 
great  game  for  the  single  trick.  You  must  be  careful, 
however,  not  to  carry  this  refusal  to  excess.  You  must 
not,  as  a  rule,  refuse  to  be  forced  by  a  sure  winning 
card,  except  in  situations  similar  to  the  one  referred  to, 
and  not  then,  if  the  winning  card  is  sure  to  be  followed 
by  others  of  the  same  suit  to  which  partner  must  evi- 
dently follow.  With  more  than  four  trumps  you  will  do 
best,  as  a  rule,  to  take  the  force  and  lead  trumps.  With 
less  than  four,  generally  trump. 

Forced  by  Partner. 

When  forced  by  partner  you  should  not  refuse  unless 
you  have  most  excellent  reasons.  A  good  partner  will 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  385 

not  purposely  force  you  early  in  the  hand — as  a  rule — 
unless  he  is  strong  enough  in  trumps  to  desire  them  led, 
and  if  you  cannot  see  your  way  very  clearly,  take  the 
force  and  play  his  game,  for  the  chances  are  that  partner 
desires  that  you  should  make  a  little  trump  before  he 
proceeds  to  disarm  the  adversaries. 

Forcing  the  Adversary. 

If  it  is  a  disadvantage  to  force  your  partner  when  you 
are  weak  in  trumps,  or  to  be  forced  by  the  opponent 
when  you  are  but  moderately  strong  in  them,  it  follo\vs 
that  it  is  evidently  an  advantage  to  you  to  force  the 
adversaries  when  they  are  strong.  If  it  is  good  play  to 
force  the  partner  when  he  is  weak  in  trumps,  it  is  very 
poor  play  to  force  an  opponent  when  he  is  not  strong. 
You  would,  by  such  play,  be  playing  into  his  hand.  You 
must  particularly  avoid  leading  a  card  that  will  give  the 
opponent,  who  is  strong,  a  discard,  and  the  one  who  is 
weak  the  opportunity  to  trump;  nothing  could  be  worse 
than  this,  and  it  should  be  done  only  in  rare  cases,  where 
you  must  throw  the  lead  at  all  hazards.  If  you  are 
forcing  the  adversary,  who  is  strong,  and  he  refuses  to 
take  the  force,  force  him  again.  There  is  a  neat  point 
often  missed  here,  and  with  it  a  trick  or  two;  suppose 
you  open  the  hand  with  queen,  holding  ace,  k,  qu  and 
two  others,  second  hand  follows,  but  to  your  second  lead 
of  the  ace  he  renounces — refusing  to  force — discarding 
a  tolerably  high  card  of  another  suit,  you  may  be  sure 
that  he  has  but  one  or,  at  the  most,  two  more  cards  of 
the  suit  he  has  discarded  from.  Now,  if  you  hold  ace, 
or  ace,  king  of  this  suit — lead  them  before  you  go  on  with 
a  third  round  of  your  other  suit;  for  if  you  do  not,  your 
opponent  will  most  likely  clear  his  hand  of  the  suit,  and 


386  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

your  high  cards  may  not  make.  This  you  would  do 
more  particularly  if  your  hand  was  so  weak  in  trumps 
that  you  could  not  offer  much  defense,  or  if  the  game 
was  critical,  and  the  one  trick  might  save  it. 

When  you  are  weak  in  trumps  it  is  fair  to  assume  that 
your  opponents  have  some  strength  in  them;  and  in  such 
cases  do  not  hesitate  to  force  the  opponent,  who  early  in 
the  play  of  the  hand  shows  that  he  is  void  of  your  suit. 
It  will  nearly  always  turn  out  that  you  force  the  strong 
hand. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  387 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

LEADING    THE    ADVERSARIES*    SUIT. 

SOMETIMES  you  will  find  it  good  play  to  lead  the 
adversaries'  strong  suit,  the  suit  they  have  established, 
even  when  you  know  that  partner  must  follow  in  it. 
This  may  be  done  for  the  purpose  of  throwing  the  lead 
or  drawing  the  last  card  of  the  suit  from  one  of  the 
opponents.  If  you  can  draw  the  last  card  D  has  of  C's 
great  suit,  and  then  put  D  in  the  lead  after  trumps  are 
out,  you  may  compel  him  to  lead  your  suit,  or  your 
partner's,  and  if  C  has  no  re-entry  card  he  will  not  make 
his  great  suit.  If  the  position  is  well-judged  you  cannot 
lose  by  the  play,  for  the  losing  cards  you  hold  of  the 
adversaries'  suit  must  lose  in  any  event,  and  you  make 
them  lose  in  a  way  that  will  result  in  your  ultimate  gain. 
Suppose  C  leads  a  spade,  showing  great  strength  and  length 
in  the  suit,  and  then  leads  trumps  to  protect  the  suit, 
A  wins  the  first  round  of  trumps.  Now,  if  A  holds  a 
losing  spade,  and  the  fall  indicates  that  D  has  most 
likely  but  one  more  spade,  A  may  lead  it.  If  C  is  forced 
to  take  it,  and  draw  D's  last  spade,  the  play  may  be  very 
advantageous  to  A.  If  D  is  finally  left  with  the  lead,  he 
has  no  spade  to  lead  to  C,  and  if  C  has  no  card  of 
re-entry  he  will  not  make  his  great  suit.  A's  play  in  such 
a  situation  might  save  several  tricks.  This  play  in  the 
above  case  would  be  particularly  effective  if  A  held  a 
tenace  in  trumps,  for,  by  the  play,  A  throws  the  lead  with 
C;  if  C  abandons  trumps  and  goes  on  with  spades  A 


388  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

trumps.  If  C  opens  a  fresh  suit  then  A  is  last  player, 
and  in  any  event  A  has  lessened  C's  chances  of  making 
his  great  suit.  The  opportunity  for  making  this  good 
play  may  rarely  occur,  but  you  should  be  on  the  alert 
for  such  neat  points.  You  must  recollect  that  ordinary 
routine  play  will  nearly  always  take  all  the  tricks  but  one 
that  can  by  any  play  be  taken.  The  finest  players  by 
the  finest  play  only  occasionally  gain  an  extra  trick — the 
rest  are  made  by  any  play.  You  must  also  remember 
that  in  nearly  every  hand  it  early  develops  that  you  have 
cards  that  must  lose,  no  matter  how  you  play  or  plan, 
and  the  clever  thing  to  do  is  to  make  them  lose  some- 
what to  your  advantage — lose  as  you  would  have  them 
lose,  not  as  the  opponents  wish  them  to.  You  can  often 
foil  the  cleverest  adversary,  by  the  use  you  make  of 
your  losing  cards — by  making  them  lose  at  the  proper 
moment  and  in  the  right  way.  There  is  this  value  to 
losing  cards  that  the  moderate  player  knows  not  of.  A 
game  may  be  saved  simply  because  you  have  a  losing 
card  to  use  at  the  critical  moment — thus,  by  strategic 
manoeuvring,  clothing  weakness  with  strength. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


389 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


LEADING    THROUGH    THE    STRONG    HAND. 


IT  sometimes  happens  that  you  have  no  suit  that  you 
can  open  to  advantage,  but  you  are  in  a  position  to  re- 
turn through  the  leader  his  suit,  up  to  the  right-hand  ad- 
versary who  is  weak  in  the  suit.  It  is  often  good  play  to 
avail  yourself  of  this,  even  though  you  have  a  good  hand. 
Suppose  this  case: — 


*.* 


*    * 


* 


*  *  * 


B 


D 


*** 
*** 

*** 
*** 


v 

*** 


**** 
***** 


i. — C  leads  3  (trumps);  B  plays  4;  D  plays  9;  A 
plays  10. 

A  knows  that  C  has  but  four  trumps,  and  that  D  has 
put  up  his  best  card.  If  A  returns  the  8  through  C,  he 


39° 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


places  him  at  a  disadvantage,  for,  if  he  passes,  B  also 
passes,  if  he  covers,  B  covers  in  turn  and  does  not  return 
the  suit,  and  when  A  gets  in  again,  he  again  leads 
through  him,  and  there  is  not  a  trick  in  the  suit  for  C. 
Again: — 


*  *   * 

*  *   *l 


C 


B 


I) 


*** 

* 

*'* 

*** 
*** 

* 

C  is  the  original  leader  of  the  hand,  and — 
i. — C  leads  5    (plain  suit);  B  plays  8;  D  plays  kn;  A 
plays  qu. 

Now,  suppose  you,  playing  A's  hand,  hold  four  small 
trumps;  ace,  qu,  and  one  small,  king  and  two  small,  in 
the  other  suits.  If  you  open  a  fresh  suit,  you  do  so  to 
your  probable  disadvantage.  Knowing  that  D  has  most 
likely  put  up  his  best  card,  and  that  C  does  not  hold 
both  ace  and  king,  or  he  would  have  led  one  or  the  other, 
you  return  your  10  through  C,  and  he  must  give  up  con- 
trol of  the  suit  if  he  attempts  to  take  it.  If  C  passes  your 
10,  so  will  partner.  No  harm  is  done  if  it  turns  out  that 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  391 

C  has  ace,  partner  king;  for  if  C  puts  up  ace,  he  loses 
control  of  the  suit,  and,  what  is  better  still,  he  must  then 
open  up  a  suit  to  your  manifest  advantage.  Care  must 
be  taken  that  your  right-hand  adversary  has  more  of  the 
suit.  If  it  is  highly  probable  that  he  has  not,  you  must 
not  take  this  chance,  but  with  such  a  hand  as  described 
above,  lead  trumps. 

In  returning  through  the  strong  hand  you  must  be  on 
the  alert  for  this  adverse  play — viz.,  the  strong  hand  may 
hold  the  master  card — the  balance  of  power  in  the  suit 
with  you  and  partner,  and  if  the  original  leader  suspects 
that  his  partner  has  but  one  more  of  the  suit,  he  plays  his 
master  card,  and  at  once  returns  the  suit  for  his  partner 
to  ruff,  and  your  suit  is  cut  to  pieces,  and  your  good  cards 
in  the  suit  sacrificed  to  the  weak  trump  hand  of  the  op- 
ponent. You  can  generally  counter  on  this  by  first  ex- 
acting a  round  or  two  of  trumps,  and  then  lead  through 
the  original  leader.  You  can  nearly  always  detect  this 
phase  of  the  situation,  by  the  card  led  and  the  follow,  in 
conjunction  with  the  cards  you  hold  in  the  suit.  You 
must  not  confuse  the  play  of  leading  through  the  strong 
hand,  with  the. return  of  the  adversaries'  suit  for  the  ob- 
ject of  ruffing,,  Good  players  rarely  return  the  opponent's 
suit  with  this  object  in  view;  if  they  do  the  motive  is  ap- 
parent from  the  fall  of  the  cards.  It  is  very  often  bright 
play,  and  the  best  the  situation  affords,  to  lead  through 
the  calling  hand,  for,  if  the  calling  hand  does  not  attempt 
to  take  the  trick,  partner  will  read  the  play,  and  finesse 
deeply,  and  if  it  wins,  he  will  not  return  the  suit.  In  rare 
cases  you  are  forced  from  sheer  weakness  to  return  the 
adversaries'  suit  solely  for  the  purpose  of  placing  the 
lead  with  your  right-hand  opponent,  that  your  partner 
may  become  last  player  to  the  next  trick — but  this  is  a 
last  resort. 


392 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THROWING    THE    LEAD. 

THERE  is  nothing  prettier,  brighter  or  more  effective 
than  throwing  the  lead.  This  strategy  may  be  resorted 
to  at  any  stage  of  the  hand,  but  the  occasion  for  it  is 
more  frequent  in  the  ending.  When  you  hold  a  hand 
exceptionally  weak  you  may  often  benefit  your  partner 
by  putting  your  right-hand  opponent  into  the  lead.  In  this 
way  you  compel  your  adversary  to  lead  through  the 
weak  hand — your  hand — up  to  the  hand  of  your  partner, 
who  by  this  acquires  the  advantage  of  position,  and 
through  this  manoeuvre  may  make  a  tenace  which  other- 
wise he  would  have  lost  had  you  opened  one  of  your 
weak  suits.  In  such  cases  you  will,  therefore,  in  the 
absence  of  anything  better,  select  a  card  that  will  put 
your  right-hand  opponent  in  the  lead.  As  an  illustration 
of  this,  suppose  the  following: — 

***| 

*    * 


c 

B 
A 

D 

|Q£ 

**** 
*    * 
**** 

*       * 
* 

4-       *i 

*       * 

* 

*  * 
*  * 
*  * 

*  * 
*  * 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  393 

D  opens  the  hand  with  a  plain  suit  lead: — 

i. — D  leads  2;  A  plays  4;  C  plays  k;  B  plays  3. 

2. — C  leads  9;  B  plays  7;  D  plays  5;  A  plays  ace. 

D's  finesse  was  obligatory. 

Suppose  that  A  has  four  very  small  trumps,  and  three 
each  of  the  other  two  suits,  also  very  weak;  his  position 
is  critical,  If  he  opens  trumps  he  implies  strength;  if 
either  of  the  three-card  suits  he  may  deceive  partner  and 
weaken  him  and  strengthen  the  adversaries.  D  has  shown 
weakness  by  announcing  a  suit  headed  by  queen  as  his 
best  suit;  yet  he  may  hold  in  the  plain  suit — A  would 
select  at  random — the  major  tenace,  in  which  B  may  hold 
king,  knave,  and  in  this  event  A  would  be  playing  the 
opponent's  game.  A's  best  play  under  the  circumstances 
is  to  throw  the  lead  into  D's  hand,  by  leading  the  6  of  the 
suit  D  has  opened,  and  in  this  way  place  the  responsi- 
bility of  the  lead  with  D.  The  play  will  not  deceive  B, 
for  in  this  instance  he  will  read  the  situation  and  know 
that  A  has  not  returned  D's  suit  for  the  purpose  of  forc- 
ing him,  for  he  (B)  is  marked  with  either  qu,  kn  or  10, 
as  D  cannot  have  all  three. 

You  may  sometimes  find  it  to  your  advantage  to  throw 
the  lead  at  the  very  start,  owing  to  the  peculiar  char- 
acter of  your  hand  or  the  trump  turned.  Say  you  pick 
up  ace,  queen  and  two  small  trumps;  king  and  two 
small;  ro  and  two  small,  and  king,  knave,  ten  in  the 
other  suit — king  turned  to  your  right.  Now,  you  lead 
trumps  to  disadvantage;  and  you  have  no  suit  to  make 
— lead  the  10  from  the  k,  kn,  10,  and  throw  the  lead;  if 
partner  takes  the  trick  and  has  a  good  suit,  he  will  show 
it,  and  then  will  lead  a  strengthening  trump  through  the 
king  turned.  If  the  opponents  win  the  trick,  they  must 
open  up  to  either  your  hand  or  that  of  partner's,  and 
you  may  ask  for  trumps  or  not  as  you  prefer. 


394  MODERN   SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

The  lead  is  of  great  advantage  when  you  can  control 
the  play,  but  again  it  may  be  a  great  disadvantage.  When 
to  have  the  lead  is  likely  to  be  to  your  detriment,  you  can 
frequently  throw  it  to. good  results,  and  this  strategic 
point  should  not  be  overlooked.  The  trick  you  give  the 
opponents  to  throw  the  lead  is  one  that  you  must  in  all 
likelihood  lose  in  any  event,  and  you,  in  this  way,  lose  it 
in  the  most  advantageous  manner. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  395 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

CHANGING    SUITS 

THE  rule  reads  "Avoid  changing  suits."  This  may 
mislead  the  student,  for  sometimes  the  more  suits  you 
open  advantageously  the  more  information  you  impart. 
If  partner  opens  the  hand  with  a  small  card  and  you  win 
the  trick,  you  should  not,  as  a  rule,  return  the  suit,  but 
rather  open  your  own  strong  suit,  and  in  this  way  show 
partner  your  hand.  In  fact,  if  you  return  your  partner's 
suit,  he  will  read  your  hand  as  weak.  If  you  open  the 
hand  originally,  the  first  trick  going  to  the  opponents, 
and  afterwards  you  get  in,  and  you  have  in  the  meantime 
no  information  as  to  your  partner's  hand,  you  should,  as 
a  rule,  go  on  with  your  suit  with  the  view  of  establishing 
it.  You  may  pick  up  a  hand  the  peculiar  character  of 
which  will  justify  you  in  opening  two  or  three  suits  in 
succession.  Suppose  a  hand  like  the  following,  which 
is  exceptional,  but  it  will  serve  as  an  illustration:  s  ace, 
k,  5,  3;  h  kn;  c  ace,  k,  kn,  5;  d  ace,  k,  qu,  5.  Hearts 
trumps.  You  may  open  with  the  k  c;  then  k  d;  then 
the  knave  of  hearts.  You  have  changed  suit  with  a 
vengeance,  but  partner  can  read  your  hand  and  play  for 
it,  just  as  well  as  though  it  was  faced  upon  the  table. 

When  you  win  the  first  round  of  your  partner's  suit 
with  a  small  card,  you  must  not  as  a  rule  return  it,  for 
the  balance  of  strength  must  be  with  your  right-hand 
opponent,  and  your  return  is  equivalent  to  leading 


396  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

through  the  weak  hand  up  to  the  strong,  which  is  the 
reverse  of  good  play;  besides,  your  left-hand  adversary 
may  be  short  in  the  suit  and  very  willing  to  trump.  You 
should  not  return  your  partner's  suit,  especially  if  the 
first  suit  of  the  hand  opened,  if  you  have  a  good  suit  of 
your  own,  for  partner  may  have  fair  strength  in  trumps, 
and  if  you  show  strength  in  your  suit,  he  may,  if  he  gets 
in,  lead  trumps  from  the  fact  that  you  together  have  two 
suits  well  in  hand. 

You  may  sometimes  be  forced  to  open  a  suit  moder- 
ately strong,  rather  than  return  your  partner's  lead, 
owing  to  the  fall  of  the  cards  indicating  that  both  of  the 
opponents  are  short  of  the  suit.  For  the  same  reason  as 
just  given,  you  may  be  forced  to  discontinue  your  own 
suit  after  one  round.  A  suit  will  seldom  live  three 
rounds,  and  it  is  often  best  to  change  after  the  second 
round,  even  if  to  a  weak  suit — leading  the  highest  of 
three  if  necessary — for  partner  may  have  a  fair  hand  and 
if  he  gains  possession  of  the  lead — lead  a  trump,  and 
make  your  great  suit;  if  you  go  on,  and  your  suit  is 
trumped,  your  game  may  be  ruined.  You  must  never 
lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  you  are  playing  or  helping  to 
play  twenty-six  cards,  and  remember  that  the  poorest 
players  are  the  ones  who  endeavor  to  take  all  the  tricks 
themselves. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


397 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

THE    RETURN. 

THE  proper  return  of  partner's  suit  is  a  very  important 
thing.  When  you  hold  the  master  card  of  the  suit  it 
should  generally  be  played,  if  you  return  the  suit,  irre- 
spective of  the  number  you  hold  of  the  suit  at  the  time. 
Holding  two  cards  of  the  suit  at  the  time  you  return  the 
suit,  lead  the  higher  of  the  two.  Holding  three  or  more, 
return  the  lowest.  There  is  an  exception  to  this  rule, 
and  a  very  important  one — when  you  retain  the  lowest 
card  the  first  round  (having  exactly  four)  you  then  re- 
turn the  highest,  even  though  you  hold  three  cards  of  the 
suit  at  the  time.  (See  "  Unblocking.")  Holding  second 
aud  third  best,  return  the  second-best.  A  few  examples 
on  the  return  will  make  these  rules  clear,  and  the  reasons 
for  them  evident. 

Return  the  Higher  of  Two  Cards. 


A      * 

4.     A 

A 

*      A 

A     A 

398 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


i. — A  leads  7;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  ace;  D  plays  8. 
2. — B  leads  5;  D  plays  kn;  A  plays  k;  C  plays  6. 
Here  B   returns  the  higher  of  two  cards  and  is  now 
marked  with  the  4  and  no  more.     Again: — 


Return  the  Lowest  of  Three  Cards, 


*  *  * 
*  * 


:*: 


*  * 


B 


A 


V 
*** 


i. — A  leads  3;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  ace;  D  plays  7. 
2. — B  leads  2;  D  plays  qu;  A  plays  k;  C  plays  6. 
B  having  three  cards,  and  not  the  master  card,  returns 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


399 


the  lowest  card,  and,  the  4  not  falling,  A  knows  that  B  has 
the  4  and  at  least  one  more.     Or  this: 


Return  of  the  Master  Card. 


*  * 


B 


*** 
*** 


!-*L_± 


D 


i. — A  leads  4;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  k;  D  plays  TO. 

2. — B  leads  ace;  D  plays  qu;  A  plays  6;  C  plays  7. 

Here  B  holds  three  cards,  four  originally,  but  the  ace 
being  a  master  card  he  returns  it.  B  does  this  irrespec- 
tive of  number.  The  card,  of  course,  need  not  be  the 


400 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


ace,  but  any  master  card — that  is  the  best  card  of  the 
suit  in  play.     Again: — 


Returning  the  Highest  of  Three  Cards. 


+ 


*  * 

*&* 
*** 

*  * 


*  * 
* 

*  * 


B 


**J 

*** 
*** 


D 


A  leads  qu;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  4;  D  plays  ace. 

2  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  9;  D  plays  8;  A  plays  k;  C 
plays  kn. 

Here  B  held  exactly  four  cards  of  the  suit,  hence 
played  his  third-best  card  to  the  first  trick  (see  "  Un- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


401 


blocking  ").     B  now  returns  his  highest  card  although  he 
holds  three  cards  at  the  time. 


Return  of  the  Second-Best. 


*i* 

*** 
**4- 


B 


D 


*** 

*  * 

*  * 

*  * 

*  * 

«?• 

*  4- 

4.  4. 

*  * 

4*    4* 

i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  10;  D  plays  ace. 

2  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  qu;  D  renounces;  A  plays  4; 
C  plays  k. 

Here  B,  holding  second  and  third  best,  returns  the 
second-best.  If  he  returns  the  deuce — the  lowest  of 
three — he  loses  a  trick,  as  C  wins  the  trick  with  the  9. 
If  trumps  come  out  and  A  leads  the  suit,  B  plays  kn  and 
returns  the  2.  If  B  leads  the  suit  he  leads  the  kn,  and 
A's  five-card  suit  is  cleared. 


402 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Following   Up  a  Finesse. 

It  is  often  best  to  return  the  master  card  of  your 
partner's  suit  at  once;  but  when  you  win  the  first  round 
by  a  finesse,  it  is  best  as  a  rule  to  wait  for  partner  to 
again  lead  the  suit,  that  the  advantage  of  your  finesse 
may  be  followed  up.  If  B  makes  a  successful  finesse  it 
is  incumbent  upon  A  to  make  the  most  of  it.  As: — 


*  * 
**** 


B 


D 


*    * 

*** 
*** 


i. — A  leads  2;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  10;  D  plays  4. 

Here  B  would  throw  away  all  the  advantage  of  the 
finesse  gained  by  returning  the  suit.  A  must  follow  up 
this  advantage,  gained  by  B,  by  again  leading  the  suit 
through  C,  and  the  k  is  hemmed  in;  if  B  returns  the  suit 
the  k  is  freed.  It  is  evident  here  to  A  that  they  can 
take  every  trick  in  the  suit,  and  if  he  has  any  strength  at 
all  in  the  other  suits  and  even  fair  trumps,  he  should 
lead  trumps  for  the  protection  of  this  suit,  when  he  gets 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


403 


in  the  lead  again.  Even  one  more  round  in  this  suit 
would  be  dangerous,  for  D  must  be  short  of  the  suit.  If 
A  should  lead  trumps  here  B  would  be  justified  in  deep 
finesse,  for  he  would  read  A's  play  as  an  effort  at  pro- 
tecting this  suit,  and  he  would  not  put  up  his  best  card. 
It  makes  all  the  difference  in  the  world  to  B  whether  A 
has  played  trumps  from  strength,  or  whether  he  has  led 
to  protect  a  great  suit  proclaimed  in  their  combined 
hands.  The  return  of  the  trump  suit  is  fully  explained 
in  the  chapter  on  "  The  Echo." 

When  it  is  evident  to  B  that  he  is  longer  in  the  suit 
than  A,  he  should  not  return  the  master  card,  if  he 
knows  the  second-best  card  is  with  A.  If  he  does,  A  may 
block  B  in  the  suit,  to  the  loss  of  a  trick  or  more.  This 
is  a  point  careless  players  miss.  A  should  not  finesse  on 
such  a  return,  but  play  his  best  and  return  the  next  best 
— getting  out  of  B's  way.  Suppose  the  following: — 

Refusal  to  Return  the  Master  Card. 


*    * 


*    * 


D 


*** 

*** 


*** 

V 

*'* 


404  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

i. — A  leads  8;  C  plays  ace;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  5. 

Now  suppose  that  trumps  come  out  and  B  gets  in,  he 
should  lead  the  3  and  not  the  k.  If  B  parts  with  the  k 
his  suit  is  irrevocably  blocked. 


Departing  from  Rule. 

Late  in  the  hand  you  may  sometimes  find  it  best  to 
depart  from  rule,  and  return  the  lowest  of  two  cards,  in 
order  that  you  may  not  tempt  partner  to  finesse.  You 
desire  his  best  played,  that  he  may  gain  the  lead,  to  lead 
you  a  winning  card  you  know  he  holds,  that  you  may 
profit  by  a  discard.  This  is  on  the  same  principle  that 
late  in  hand  you  will  sometimes  lead  the  low  card  from 
qu  or  kn  and  one  small,  not  wishing  partner  to  finesse. 
For  example:  Partner  has  the  best  s;  you  the  best  h,  and 
the  last  c — trump;  you  also  have  qu  and  one  small  d — 
the  ace  and  k  yet  in  play.  You  lead  the  small  d  and  not 
the  qu  in  the  hope  that  partner  may  win  the  trick — play- 
ing his  ace  d,  then  his  winning  s — giving  you  the  needed 
discard  of  a  diamond.  If  you  lead  the  qu  partner  might 
finesse  holding  the  ace,  and  a  trick  be  lost. 

The  rules  governing  the  return  of  partner's  suit,  like 
all  other  whist  rules  and  maxims,  do  not  take  into  con- 
sideration the  exceptional  situations.  Positions  arise  in 
which  you  must  depart  from  the  conventional  order  for 
play.  Here  is  an  instance: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


405 


*  *   -fr! 
*     * 

*  4*  +1 


* 

1*1 

*    * 

*A* 
*** 

*     * 

C 

B 

A 

D 

*       * 

*  *  * 

i 

*    * 
4,    4. 


* 


This  is  the  trump  suit. 

i. — A  leads  kn;  C  plays  qu;  B  plays  ace;  D  plays  2. 

2. — B  leads  9;  D  plays  3;  A  plays  5;  C  plays  k. 

B  would  lose  a  trick  if  he  returned  the  lowest  of  three. 
He  cannot  afford  to  risk  C  having  the  k,  8.  The  fall 
shows  that  C  has  most  likely  the  king,  and  that  A  has 
led  the  highest  of  three — possibly  only  two.  The  9  forces 
the  k  and  the  8  will  not  make.  The  return  is  irregular 
owing  to  the  fall.  B  returns  the  middle  card,  for  if  he 
returns  the  10  he  will  leave  partner  in  the  dark  as  to  the 
location  of  the  six,  as — 

2. — B  leads  10;  D  plays  3;  A  plays  5;  C  plays  k. 

3  (B  to  lead). — B  leads  9;  D  plays  4;  A  plays  7;  C 
plays  8. 

A  must  now  give  D  the  6,  as  B  has  only  shown  three 
trumps  by  the  play.  If  he  returns  the  9,  and  afterwards 
plays  the  10,  A  reads  the  play  and  gives  B  the  6. 


406  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC   WHIST. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


THE    TWELFTH. 

MANY  fair  whist  players  are  sadly  remiss  in  handling 
Eleventh,  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  cards.  The  oppor- 
tunity to  make  the  best  use  of  these  cards  occurs  in 
almost  every  hand.  When  and  how  to  use  them  is  a 
question  worth  the  student's  careful  consideration.  The 
one  trick  to  be  played  for  may  be  made  or  lost  by  the 
proper  or  improper  play  of  one  of  these  cards.  The 
twelfth  card  may  be  either  a  master  or  a  losing  card  of 
any  two  cards  of  a  suit  in  play.  When  it  is  the  winning 
twelfth,  and  the  losing  thirteenth  is  with  your  right-hand 
opponent,  it  is  useful  in  giving  your  partner  a  discard  or 
the  opportunity  to  overtrump  ;  if  a  losing  twelfth,  in 
placing  the  lead.  You  should  be  careful  how  you  handle 
your  winning  twelfth  card,  so  long  as  trumps  are  yet  in. 
Suppose  A  has  a  twelfth  card,  D  the  losing  thirteenth  ; 
C  and  B  each  with  trumps,  B  probably  the  best  ones;  A, 
here,  must  be  careful  how  he  makes  use  of  his  twelfth 
card,  if  he  has  other  winning  cards  in  his  hand.  C  may 
not  trump  A's  twelfth,  but  instead  throw  a  losing  card — 
the  only  one  he  has — of  the  suit  in  which  both  A  and  B 
have  master  cards,  and  a  trick  or  more  be  lost.  A  few 
illustrations  will  make  the  value  of  twelfth  cards  ap- 
parent. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

The   Winning  Twelfth. 


407 


B 


D 


:*: 

*** 


o 


Clubs  trump;  two  rounds  have  been  played;  C  and  B 
each  marked  with  two  ;  B  the  probable  tenace  over  C, 
who  is  marked  with  the  best  hearts.  One  round  of 
spades,  to  which  the  ace,  qu,  kn,  6  fell.  A  has  the 
twelfth  d  and  D  is  marked  with  the  losing  thirteenth.  A 
is  in,  and  if  he  leads  the  twelfth  card  before  he  leads  a 
round  of  spades,  he  loses  two  tricks — 

i. — A  leads  8  d;  C  plays  4  s;  B  plays  9  h;  D  plays  5  d. 

C  very  properly  refuses  to  trump.  If  he  trumps  with 
the  6  he  is  overtrumped,  has  his  last  trump  drawn  and 
he  will  not  take  a  trick.  If  he  trumps  with  the  10,  he 
makes  the  9  good  for  D,  but  even  this  loses.  The  cor- 
rect play  is  to  throw  the  losing  spade.  There  is  a  good 
lesson  here  for  both  A  and  C  ;  A  plays  badly  by  the 
lead  of  the  twelfth  card  at  the  wrong  time,  and  C  takes 
full  advantage  of  it. 


408  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

2. — A  leads  k  s;  C  plays  6  c;  B  plays  5  s;  D  plays  2  s. 

3. — C  leads  k  h;  B  plays  7  c;  D  overtrumps;  A  plays 
Sh. 

B  trumps  with  the  7,  hoping  to  find  the  heart  with  D; 
the  result  is  the  same,  however,  if  he  trumps  with  kn. 

4. — D  leads  3  s;  A  plays  8  s;  .C  trumps;  B  plays  10  s. 

The  kn  c  makes,  and  A  B  score  but  two  tricks  out  of 
the  five.  On  the  other  hand,  let  A  play  as  under — 

i. — A  leads  k  s;  C  plays  4  s;  B  plays  10  s;  D  plays  2  s. 

B's  play  of  the  10  s  is  a  beautiful  one  for  the  chance 
of  every  trick,  for  if  C  injudiciously  trumps,  the  twelfth 
d  next  led  by  A,  with  the  6,  B  would  block  A's  spades, 
and  must  in  this  event  lose  the  9  h  to  C. 

2. — A  leads  8  d;  C  plays  10  h;  B  plays  5  s;  D  plays 
5d. 

C  discreetly  throws  the  h,  refusing  to  trump.  B  makes 
another  fine  play  by  discarding  the  5  s.  If  he  throws 
the  losing  heart  he  loses  a  trick. 

3. — A  leads  8  s;  C  plays  10  c;  B  overtrumps;  D  plays 
3S. 

C  trumps  at  the  proper  moment  and  with  the  right 
card,  for  trumping  with  the  10  c  forces  B  to  make  a 
pretty  play  or  lose  a  trick. 

4. — B  leads  7  c;  D  plays  9  c;  A  plays  5  h;  D  plays 
6  c. 

This  illustrates  the  beauty  of  whist  play  where  all  the 
players  are  of  equal  skill  and  adroitness.  If  B  attempts 
to  make  his  little  trump,  he  loses  a  trick;  he  is  equal  to 
C's  fine  second-hand  play,  however,  and  neatly  meets  it 
by  the  lead  of  the  losing  trump — throwing  the  lead  with 
D  that  he  may  lead  the  losing  s  to  A's  9  s. 

5. — D  leads  7  s,  and  A  makes  the  9  s  and  A  B  score 
four  of  the  five  tricks. 

The  fine  play  of  A,  C  and  B  is  worth  careful  study 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


409 


and  analysis,  as  it  illustrates  three  intricate  points  in 
whist  strategy  that  require  the  most  accurate  treatment, 
viz.,  the  lead  of  the  twelfth,  the  discard,  and  the  refusal 
to  trump  when  you  will  be  overtrumped.  Here  is  a 
simple  case  showing  the  value  of  a  losing  twelfth  card. 

The  Losing   Twelfth. 


*  * 

*  * 

*  * 


B 


D 


*   * 

0    O 

*** 

0 

4% 

0    0 

Hearts,  trump,  are  out;  A  is  in  the  lead.  If  he  leads 
either  a  spade  or  club,  A  B  do  not  take  a  trick.  But  he 
can  lead  the  losing  twelfth  and  place  the  lead  with  D 
as — 

i. — A  leads  5  d;  C  plays  2  s;  B  plays  4  s;  D  plays  8d. 

2. — D  must  now  lead  a  c  to  B's  tenace  and  a  trick  is 
saved. 

If  the  hands  of  A,  B,  D,  are  exchanged,  the  follow- 
ing position  shows  the  value  of  a  losing  twelfth  card 


410 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


m  another  phase — for  partner  to  trump  for  the  benefit 
of  leader's  tenace,  which  may  be  either  a  plain  suit 
or  a  trump  one. 


X 

*** 

*        * 

*    4 

*    * 
* 

*    * 

B 

*  *  *  * 
*    * 
**** 

c 

D 

*  *  * 

1*  *  * 

o  o  o 

0    0 

o  o  o 

A 

1 

*** 
*  * 

*  * 

0     0 
0 
0    0 

Clubs  trumps.     C's  hand  is  immaterial. 

i. — A  leads  5  d;  B  trumps;  D  plays  8  d.  B  now  leads 
through  D's  trump  tenace  and  A  B  make  all  three  tricks 
Here  A  leads  a  twelfth  for  B  to  trump.  If  the  twelfth 
is  a  master  card  in  situations  like  this,  B  must  also  trump 
or  lose  a  trick.  The  student  will  see  by  these  illustra- 
tions that  twelfth  cards  can  be  used  to  good  purposes  in 
various  ways,  and  that  if  they  are  badly  managed,  a  well- 
fought  battle  up  to  the  point  of  using  them,  may  end  in 
defeat.  It  will  also  be  noticed  that  the  player  must  be 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  411 

on  the  alert,  when  an  opponent  leads  a  twelfth  card,  to 
pick  out  the  right  path,  as  C  did  in  our  first  example,  or 
he  may  come  to  grief. 

Examples  could  be  multiplied  illustrating  the  play  and 
value  of  twelfth  cards,  but  a  careful  study  of  these  will 
serve.  Even  greater  care  must  be  taken  when  the  thir- 
teenth, either  a  master  or  a  losing  card,  is  with  your  left- 
hand  opponent. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 


THE    THIRTEENTH. 

THE  last  card  of  a  suit  in  play  is  called  a  thirteenth, 
and  good  players  make  this  card  very  effective  at  times, 
especially  late  in  play.  When  left  with  the  long  trump 
and  a  thirteenth  of  a  plain  suit,  your  plain  suit  card  is, 
of  course,  as  valuable  as  your  trump.  This  may  be  said 
of  all  the  cards  of  an  established  suit — they  are  virtually 
so  many  thirteenth  cards,  and  are  of  great  value  in  con- 
nection with  the  balance  of  power  in  trumps.  Thirteenth 
cards  are  rarely  played  early  in  the  hand,  they  are  re- 
served for  use  in  the  strategic  manoeuvres  of  the  after 
play,  and  whenever  led  by  a  good  player,  the  intent  and 
purpose  of  the  play  should  be  most  carefully  studied.  As 
before  stated  a  thirteenth  card  is  rarely  led  early  in  play, 
yet  in  exceptional  cases  they  may  be  so  used.  Suppose 
the  following  case: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


413 


B 


D 


(Queen  h  turned  with  B.) 

D  opens  the  hand  with  a  small  spade;  won  by  A  with 
k,  who  then  leads  k  d,  the  2,  9  and  3  fall  in  the  order 
named;  A  follows  with  qu  d — the  4,  10  and  6  fall.  A 
now  reads  that  B  is  probably  short  of  d  and  leads  the  ace, 
to  which  the  7,  kn,  8  fall.  A  is  now  left  with  the  thir- 
teenth d;  he  has  four  tricks  home  and  must  score  3  by 
card  to  make  the  game.  A  has  no  suit  to  make,  and 
reasons  that  if  he  now  leads  the  last  d,  B's  qu  which  is 
turned  will  win  the  trick,  and  if  he  can  make  the  2  h,  by 
trumping  the  s.  or  his  partner  takes  a  trick  in  clubs,  the 
game  is  made.  A,  therefore,  leads  the  thirteenth  d;  C, 
with  three  small  trumps,  qu,  kn  of  spades  and  kn  to  ace 
in  clubs,  throws  ace  of  clubs;  B  wins  with  qu — his  only 
trump,  and  holding  five  clubs  headed  by  the  10,  and  the 
10  and  two  other  spades — returns  a  spade;  A  trumps, 
with  the  deuce — and  the  game  is  won.  .  As  the  cards 


414 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


happened  to  lie,  no  other  play,  by  A,  would  have  given 
them  3  by  cards  and  game. 

When  a  thirteenth  card  is  led  late  in  the  play  of  a 
hand,  the  leader  has  one  of  these  four  objects  in  view: 
First — For  the  best  trump  partner  holds.  Second — To 
place  the  lead.  Third— To  force  the  adversary.  Fourth 
— To  put  the  adversary  to  the  discard.  For  example: 


*  *  * 
*    * 

!*  *  * 


c 


B 


D 


0    0 


(Spades  Trumps.) 

A  knows  that  D  has  k  and  another  spade;  B  the  9  or 
75.  A  leads  the  thirteenth  diamond,  and  it  demands  of 
B  his  9  s  that  it  may  force  the  play  of  the  k  from  D,  thus 
making  A's  kn  s  good.  If  B  does  not  trump  this  thir- 
teener  a  trick  is  lost. 

A  may  lead  a  thirteenth  to  force  the  winning  twelfth 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  415 

trump  from  C  or  D,  that  B's  losing  twelfth  may  make. 
The  last  card  of  a  suit  may  be  led  by  A  to  force  the  long 
trump  from  D,  and  at  the  same  time  place  the  lead,  that 
D  may  lead  up  to  a  tenace  in  A  or  B's  hand.  Again:  A 
may  lead  a  thirteener — trumps  exhausted — to  put  C  to 
the  discard,  that  his  own'  hand  or  that  of  B  may  be 
benefited.  For  further  illustrations  of  the  use  of  thir- 
teenth cards,  either  in  trumps  or  plain  suits,  see  "  Critical 
Endings." 


41 6  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

SPECIAL    TOPICS. 

Combination  of  Forces. 

WHIST  is  pre-eminently  a  partnership  game.  The 
strength  and  beauty  of  modern  whist  is  combination  of 
forces.  Each  of  the  four  players  must  plan  for  the  play 
of  twenty-six  cards.  Nothing  can  be  worse  than  to  play 
only  for  your  own  hand.  Do  not  imagine  that  the  cards 
you  hold  must  win  the  tricks,  in  order  to  merit  applause. 
A  should  not  forget  that  the  credit  is  his  if  he  makes  a 
card  in  B's  hand  that  would  be  lost,  except  for  his 
strategy.  It  matters  not  whose  card  takes  the  trick.  Let 
it  ever  be  first  in  your  mind  that  you  are  playing  the 
thirteen  cards  you  hold  in  conjunction  with  an  equal 
number  in  your  partner's  hand.  A  good  whist  player 
takes  delight  in  planning  for  the  play  of  his  partner's 
hand,  knowing  that  such  play  is  a  compliment  to  his  skill. 
To  be  able  to  read  your  partner's  hand,  and  play  to  make 
his  cards,  is  whist  of  the  highest  order. 

It  is  as  essential  in  whist  as  in  any  business  partner- 
ship that  implicit  confidence  exist.  Do  not  deceive 
your  partner.  **  It  is  more  important  to  inform  your 
partner  than  to  deceive  your  adversary,"  is  a  golden 
maxim.  The  evil  effect  of  a  deceit  practiced  upon 
your  partner  cannot  be  overestimated.  Your  credit 
has  received  a  severe  shock;  he  had  confidence  in  your 
integrity,  and  relied  upon  your  doing  the  right  thing 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  417 

always.  Do  not  forget  that  when  confidence  is  impaired, 
it  is  not  easily  restored.  Guard  your  reputation  for 
reliability  and  straightforwardness  at  the  whist  table  with 
jealous  care.  The  whist  player  who  always  plays  a 
steady,  careful,  conservative  game — strong  hands  and 
weak  hands  with  equal  interest — and,  above  all,  never 
deceives  you  with  erratic  plays,  planned  mostly  for  his 
own  hand,  is  the  safe  player.  He  is  the  Whist  Player. 


Mannerisms 

You  should  studiously  avoid  all  mannerisms  in  play, 
and  never  permit  yourself  to  draw  any  inferences  from 
the  antics  of  either  your  partner  or  your  opponents,  if 
they  should  be  guilty  of  making  them.  Cultivate  a 
uniform  style  of  play.  Play  each  card  with  equal 
deliberation.  Do  not  draw  the  card  until  ready  to  play 
it.  Emphasize  no  play.  If  a  play  is  accompanied  with 
unusual  earnestness,  you  insinuate  that  your  partner  may 
not  read  your  intent.  If  you,  by  look  or  gesture,  endeavor 
to  draw  special  attention  to  your  play,  you  have  not  only 
cast  an  imputation  upon  the  whist  perception  of  your 
partner,  but  you  have  made  an  effort  to  take  an  unfair 
advantage  of  your  opponents — you  have  made  a  sign, 
not  a  signal.  If  to  partner's  lead,  you,  after  unusual 
hesitation,  play  knave,  and  it  loses  to  queen,  and  you 
exhibit  surprise  or  disappointment — you  are  trespassing 
upon  the  proprieties;  you  say  to  partner,  in  the  most 
unmistakable  manner:  "  I  finessed,  I  have  the  ace." 

When  an  unusual,  or  rather  an  unequal,  distribution 
of  a  suit  occurs,  and  the  fact  is  brought  out  by  the  play, 
it  does  not  merit  any  more  notice  than  any  other  play, 
except  that  each  of  the  four  players  should  be  particu- 


418  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

larly  alert  to  meet  such  exceptional  disposition  of  the 
cards. 

You  cannot  favorably  impress  gentlemen  with  your 
game  by  thumping  the  table  upon  the  delivery  of  cer- 
tain winning  cards  that  you  happen  to  hold.  You  add 
nothing  to  the  score.  The  cards  will  win  just  as  surely 
if  thrown  with  quiet  dignity.  It  is  positively  unfair  to 
make  any  comments  upon  your  hand  before  the  play, 
and  it  is  in  wretched  taste  to  complain  about  your  weak 
hands  at  any  time.  If  you  are  having  weak  hands,  every 
one  at  the  table  knows  it  as  well  as  you  do,  and  it  is  not 
complimentary  to  your  adversaries  to  be  constantly  in- 
timating that  it  is  your  weak  hands,  and  not  their  play, 
that  is  giving  them  the  score. 

Some  players  have  the  habit  of  giving  partner  a  raking 
over  at  the  end  of  every  hand.  This  is  something  a 
well-balanced  whist  player  never  does.  To  discuss  the 
play  between  deals  for  the  purpose  of  mutual  benefit,  is 
a  different  matter,  and  the  proper  thing  to  do. 

Never  attempt  to  rush  the  play,  nor  show  displeas- 
ure or  impatience  if  your  opponent  deliberates.  It  is 
a  silent  compliment  to  your  skill.  Besides  you  cannot 
play  whist  in  a  hurry.  It  is  a  game  that  asks  for  care- 
ful and  deliberate  work.  If  you  have  not  the  time  to 
play  two  games,  play  one. 

Do  not  manifest  exultation  when  winning,  nor  chagrin 
over  defeat.  A  well-played  hand  merits  compliment, 
and  good  players  are  never  slow  to  bestow  it  upon  ad- 
versaries as  well  as  partner.  Whist  is  an  intellectual 
pastime,  and  you  should  see  to  it  that  no  word  or  act 
of  yours  disturbs  the  harmony  that  should  prevail.  It 
is  singular,  yet  nevertheless  true,  that  many  players  do 
the  most  discourteous  acts,  and  violate  laws  of  social 
etiquette  at  the  whist  table,  who  would  not  be  guilty  of 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  419 

such  conduct  elsewhere.  Their  lapses  arise  mainly  from 
their  absorption  in  the  game,  and  the  excitement  it 
creates.  But  this  is  no  excuse  for  rudeness.  Those  who 
play  at  whist  should  be  jealous  of  their  whist  ethics. 

Silence. 

Discreet  people  prefer  to  do  one  thing  at  a  time  and 
do  it  well.  The  best  whist  players  know  that  they  can- 
not do  anything  but  play  whist  while  playing  whist. 
They  find  that  all  their  faculties  are  taxed  to  the  utmost 
in  reading  what  the  cards  have  to  say.  The  best  whist 
and  silence  are  inseparable.  Silence  is  in  harmony  with 
the  dignity  and  intellectual  scope  of  the  American  Game 
of  Long  Whist,  where  all  the  cards  are  played,  and  the 
play  is  for  mental  recreation. 


Value  of  Conventional  Play. 

The  difference  between  conventional,  scientific  whist 
— full  of  strategy,  brilliant  coups,  startling  finesse  and 
insidious  underplay — and  unconventional  play,  when  the 
aces,  kings  and  queen  are  thrown  in  the  order  named,  is 
very  great.  The  one  is  by  far  the  finest  game  ever  de- 
vised, the  other  perhaps  the  poorest.  If  four  fine  players 
were  to  play  fifty  or  an  hundred  hands,  and  then  hand 
them  over  to  four  players  who  play  at  whist  without  any 
regard  to  the  conventions,  the  A  B's  in  each  case  would 
make,  no  doubt,  about  the  same  number  of  tricks.  The  net 
result  as  far  as  the  score  is  concerned  would  be  the  same. 
The  preponderence  in  strength  in  cards  would  win  in 
either  case,  but  what  a  difference  in  the  manner  in  which 
the  tricks  would  be  made  !  The  first  would  be  a  mental, 


420  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

the  latter  a  physical,  exercise.  But  if  the  hands  were 
transposed  and  played  as  at  duplicate— the  four  against 
the  four — the  score  would  be  overwhelmingly  in  favor  of 
the  scientific  play. 

Unscientific  whist — whist  where  there  is  no  co-opera- 
tion, and  each  of  the  four  adversaries  strives  for  tricks — 
is  as  near  no  game  as  it  is  possible  to  imagine.  But 
when  four  thoughtful,  silent  men  play  conventional  whist, 
the  rank  of  the  cards  is  respected,  and  the  first  card 
thrown  upon  the  table  puts  the  four  players  into  com- 
munication, and  a  delightful  mental  struggle  ensues. 

Reason  versus   Rule. 

The  strongest  whist  players  have  the  greatest  respect 
for  the  rules — the  recognized  conventionalities  of  the 
game.  They  know  that  the  rules  and  maxims  as  laid 
down  by  the  best  authorities  are  based  upon  well-known 
truths,  gleaned  from  verified  analysis.  They  also  know 
that  they  are  formulated  to  meet  the  usual  disposition  of 
the  cards,  and  that  to  follow  them — in  the  absence  of 
any  information  derived  from  the  fall  of  the  cards — will 
lead  to  the  best  results  in  the  majority  of  cases. 

The  masters  of  the  game  are  those  who  follow  the 
rules  when  they  should,  and  disregard  them  when 
common  sense,  or  their  whist  judgment  convinces  them 
that  they  are  at  a  point  in  play  not  provided  for  by  any 
set  rule.  Rules  are  for  the  average  cases,  and  apply 
with  particular  force  in  the  first  few  rounds  of  the  hand. 
Unusual  situations  brought  out  by  the  play,  often  demand 
unusual  treatment.  The  necessity  for  extempore  strategy 
occurs  in  almost  every  hand,  and  is  so  utterly  different 
under  the  constantly  changing  conditions,  that  no  in- 
structions can  be  given  to  meet  such  play.  It  would 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  421 

require  a  rule  for  every  case,  and  any  attempt  in  this 
direction  would  only  confuse  the  student.  A  few  ex- 
amples will  illustrate  this  : — • 

Suppose  that  B  is  weak  in  trumps,  or  the  opponents 
known  to  be  very  strong  in  them  ;  A  has  the  lead  and 
holds,  say,  ace,  k,  qu,  kn,  and  others  of  a  suit;  he  knows 
that  the  conventional  lead  from  the  quart  major  is  the 
kn,  but  it  would  be  ill-judged  play  to  lead  the  kn  in  this 
situation,  for  B  might  be  void  of  the  suit  and  thinking  A 
led  the  card  for  him  to  trump — waste  a  trump  upon  it. 
A  should  depart  from  rule  and  lead  from  the  ace  down. 
Again  :  The  opponents  have  a  see-saw;  you  get  in  the 
lead  and  hold  ace,  k  and  two  small  trumps,  you  may  find 
it  much  better  to  force  three  rounds  of  trumps  by  leading 
the  k  then  ace,  then  small,  than  to  lead  small,  although 
the  conventional  play. 

Take  this  case:  You  hold  ace,  k  and  three  small  of  a 
suit  not  yet  in  play,  and  the  thirteenth  trump;  as  an  or- 
iginal lead,  you  would  lead  ace,  but  here,  in  the  ending, 
if  you  lead  your  ace  and  king,  the  qu  will  make,  if  doubly 
guarded  with  the  opponents;  or  if  with  partner  you  may 
draw  it,  and  the  kn  or  a  smaller  card  make  against  you. 
But  if  you  depart  from  rule,  and  lead  fourth-best, 
partner  may  make  the  first  round  for  you,  even  with  the 
kn  or  10. 

Suppose,  again,  that  A  holds  ace,  king  and  three  small 
of  a  suit — the  usual  play  is  the  ace  to  show  five,  but  if  A 
can  determine — in  any  particular  case — that  it  will  be  of 
more  advantage,  or  the  safer  play,  to  show  B,  by  the  lead 
of  the  king,  that  he  has  the  ace,  than  to  show  the 
numerical  strength  of  the  suit,  he  should  unhesitatingly 
lead  the  king.  The  value  of  this  departure  from  rule 
can  be  illustrated  in  this  way;  A  is  to  lead,  B  is  ruffing, 
say  spades,  A  leads  king  d  from  ace,  k  and  three  others, 


422  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

then  a  spade  for  B  to  ruff,  and  B  can  now  return  the  d 
with  the  assurance  that  A  has  the  king,  and  that  A  can 
surely  take,  to  lead  again  a  spade  for  B  to  ruff.  Had  A 
in  this  situation  led  ace,  B  would  have  been  in  doubt  as 
to  the  location  of  king. 

A  may  lead  the  ace  from  ace,  10,  8,  7,3,  and  the  fall 
may  show  him  that  if  he  follows  with  the  7,  the  fourth- 
best,  second  hand  may  have  a  sure  finesse;  if  so  A  will, 
of  course,  next  lead  the  3,  in  the  hope  that  C  will  not 
finesse,  and  thus  clear  his  suit.  This  play  should  not 
deceive  B,  for  he  will  be  warned,  most  likely,  by  the  fall 
to  the  ace,  to  expect  A  to  so  play. 

Nearly  all  brilliant  plays  are  departures  from  rule,  and 
in  the  endings  especially,  the  necessity  for  disregarding 
the  rules  is  more  frequent.  You  should  never  permit  a 
rule  to  get  the  better  of  your  judgment.  Rules  do  not 
take  into  consideration  the  state  of  the  score,  the  rank  of 
the  trump  turned,  nor  the  varying  data  obtained  from 
the  fall  of  the  cards,  as  the  hand  advances.  Take  this 
simple  case:  "  With  ace,  qu  and  three  small — lead  ace, 
then  fourth-best  ";  but  suppose  to  the  ace  partner  drops 
the  king,  if  you  continue  the  suit  it  requires  no  order 
from  the  books  to  have  you  follow  with  qu.  So  in  a 
vast  variety  of  phases  the  necessity  for  departure  from 
rule  presents  itself;  some  simple,  others  complex,  and 
you  must  be  equal  to  these  occasions  to  play  the  best 
whist. 

Do  not  run  away  with  the  idea,  however,  that  you  are 
to  play  contrary  to  rule  capriciously.  You  must  have 
the  best  of  reasons,  and  the  situation  should  be  examined 
with  great  care  before  you  depart  from  rule. 

False  Cards. 
It  is  not  in  harmony  with  modern  scientific  whist  to 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  423 

play  a  false  card  under  any  circumstances,  not  even  when 
it  deceives  the  adversaries  only.  If  you,  second  hand, 
holding  qu,  kn  and  one  small,  play  the  qu,  and  if  on  the 
return  of  the  suit  the  leader  finesses  the  10,  reading  that 
you  cannot  have  the  kn,  and  your  kn  wins,  and  by  this 
false  play  you  gain  a  trick,  you  have  a  trick  that  by  right 
does  not  belong  to  you.  There  is  no  strategy,  no  merit 
in  the  play.  You  have  practiced  a  cheap  deceit,  and 
nothing  more. 

Suppose  you  pick  up  the  following  hand:  s  qu,  10,  8, 
4;  h  6,  5,  4,  3;  c  10,  9,  6,  4;  d  2 — hearts  trumps.  You 
are  the  original  leader  of  the  hand.  If  you  open  with 
the  diamond  singleton,  you  have  deceived  the  whole 
table,  you  have  played  falsely,  and  there  is  no  justification 
for  your  play.  You  have  no  more  right  to  play  the  qu 
second  hand,  holding  the  kn,  than  you  have  to  open  the 
hand  with  the  singleton. 

If  the  play  of  one  false  card  is  sanctioned,  so  may 
the  play  of  two  be,  or  you  may  play  one  card  conven- 
tionally and  the  other  not,  and  the  integrity  of  the  game 
is  gone.  If  the  right  to  play  false  cards,  under  any  cir- 
cumstances, is  recognized,  the  language  of  the  cards  is 
confused,  the  conversation  of  the  game  and  its  intellec- 
tual status  impaired. 

The  vast  majority  of  American  whist  players  play 
whist  purely  for  the  intellectual  pleasure  it  affords — 
there  is  no  other  incentive.  With  such  players  the  mere 
making  of  the  tricks  is  a  secondary  object,  and  to  either 
make  or  lose  a  trick  through  deception  is  equally  unsatis- 
factory. 

If  the  right  to  play  false  is  recognized,  there  is  then 
no  limit  to  its  pernicious  and  disintegrating  practice. 
Besides,  there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  playing  false 
cards.  If  A  wins  the  first  game  by  a  cheap  deception 


424  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

practiced  upon  D,  he  (D)  in  turn  is  at  liberty  to  win  the 
second  by  similar  chicane.  The  privilege  to  play  false 
goes  around  the  table,  and  in  the  end  you  have  been  de- 
ceived as  often  as  you  have  deceived  others.  You  may 
not  hope  to  become  more  adept  in  the  playing  of  false 
cards  than  your  opponents,  for  such  play  is  devoid  of 
strategy,  and  the  novice  will  outdo  you.  But  above  all 
other  objections  against  the  play  of  false  cards  stands 
the  fact  that  the  play  may  deceive  partner,  and  there  is 
nothing  to  be  gained  by  the  play  that  will  begin  to  com- 
pensate for  the  loss  of  confidence  such  a  play  is  sure  to 
create.  Let  your  cards  speak  the  truth,  not  sometimes, 
but  always. 

Irregular  Leads  and  Play. 

Irregular  play  should  not  be  confounded  with  false 
play.  A  false  card  is  played  for  the  express  purpose  of 
deceiving.  It  is  unconventional  play  that  no  evidence 
of  the  previous  play  justifies.  An  irregular  lead  or  play 
may  be  called  a  forced  lead  or  play,  but  no  law  is  thus 
violated.  The  various  forms  of  finesse  —  underplay, 
holding  up,  throwing  high  cards,  are  all  irregular  play, 
but  they  are  part  of  the  strategy  of  the  game. 

The  original  leader,  having  strength  in  trumps  and 
holding  ace,  7,  6,  5,  4,  3,  2,  may  lead  the  fourth-best,  not 
wishing  to  part  with  the  command  of  the  suit.  The  lead 
is  irregular  but  perfectly  proper.  You  may  hold  three 
great  suits  and  the  ace  of  trumps  single,  and  lead  the 
singleton — irregular,  but  the  hand  justifies  it.  With  ace, 
k  and  two  or  more  small,  second  hand,  you  may  pass  a 
small  card  led  if  your  hand  warrants  it.  You  may  lead 
from  a  short  suit  originally,  though  holding  a  long  one — 
it  is  irregular,  but  proper  if  the  situation  demands  it.  A 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  425 

may  call,  and  B  may  refuse  to  answer,  if  he  has  sound 
reasons  for  it.  You  may  refuse  to  take  a  trick,  or  pass 
two  or  more  in  succession.  You  are  playing  out  of  the 
ordinary  routine,  but  you  are  not  playing  false. 

If  A  leads  the  qu  and  it  wins,  he  has  no  grounds  for 
complaint  if  D  afterwards  plays  the  ace,  but  he  has,  if, 
to  the  qu,  C  plays  the  kn,  holding  the  10  also — and  not 
calling.  D  has  a  good  reason  for  his  play;  C  not  any. 
To  A's  lead  of  a  small  card  B,  holding  ace,  kn,  10  and 
others,  may  play  the  ace,  finesse  the  10,  or  pass  the 
trick,  but  he  has  no  right  to  play  the  kn.  Fourth  hand, 
holding  quart  major,  may  take  the  trick  with  the  ace, 
and  lead  the  kn.  The  play  is  irregular,  but  anything  but 
false.  It  should  be  remembered  that  it  is  perfectly  proper 
to  play  irregularly  when  the  situation  demands  it,  but 
that  it  is  never  right  to  play  a  false  card.  The  one  is 
good  whist,  the  other  is  not  whist  at  all. 


Re-entry    Cards. 

Many  players  are  in  the  habit  of  holding  up  winning 
cards  beyond  the  limit  of  safety.  Cards  of  re-entry 
are  at  times  very  valuable,  and  great  care  should  be 
taken  in  some  situations  not  to  part  with  them,  even  to 
the  extent  of  passing  a  trick  or  two.  But  they  are  value- 
less— as  re-entry — when  you  have  nothing  to  bring  in. 

It  is  particularly  bad  play  to  hold  up  winning  cards 
when  your  partner  is  playing  the  strong  game.  For  ex- 
ample, A  opens  the  hand,  showing  a  great  suit,  and  then 
leads  trumps;  trumps  come  out  and  B  gets  in,  he  should 
play  his  aces  and  kings,  if  he  has  them,  without  regard 
to  conventions;  if  he  has  no  winning  cards  he  should 
lead  the  best  card  he  has  of  A's  suit,  if  he  has  none  of 


426  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

A's  suit,  he  should  lead  the  best  card  in  his  hand;  if  it 
wins,  the  next  best  of  the  same  suit.  Play  for  A,  and  let 
him  take  care  of  the  game. 

It  is  not  unusual  to  see  the  moderate  player  in  the  last 
few  tricks  of  the  hand,  throw  aces  and  kings  or  other 
winning  cards,  to  his  partner's  tricks,  or  throw  them  to 
the  adversaries'  winning  cards — cards  that  should  have 
been  made  early  in  the  play  of  the  hand. 

It  is,  of  course,  your  duty  to  keep  cards  of  re-entry  to 
make  your  partner's  suit,  or  for  the  purpose  of  throwing 
the  lead.  For  instance,  partner  has  a  great  suit  estab- 
lished, but  worthless  unless  you  get  him  in.  In  such  a 
situation  you  will  endeavor  to  retain  cards  of  re-entry. 

Leading  From    Weakest  Suits  •  Finessing  to  Save  the 
Desperate  Game. 

Do  not  become  panicstricken  because  your  opponents 
have  displayed  great  strength,  for  shrewd  defensive 
tactics  may  force  a  compromise  that  may  yield  you  sev- 
eral tricks.  Contest  the  ground,  trick  by  trick,  and 
husband  your  forces,  though  feeble,  by  deep  finesse,  and 
in  this  way  keep  control  of  some  of  the  suits  as  long  as 
possible.  If  you  may  save  something  from  what  appears 
overwhelming  defeat,  it  is  worth  trying  for.  Your 
opponents  may  have  overrated  their  strength,  and  through 
their  prodigality  and  your  economy  toward  the  end  you 
may  be  able  to  meet  them  upon  equal  ground,  or  finally 
put  them  to  rout. 

In  the  face  of  great  odds  do  not  play  your  best  cards, 
but  lead  from  your  weak  suits,  partner  must  finesse 
deeply,  and  in  turn  adopt  your  defensive  tactics  by  lead- 
ing the  highest  card  of  his  weak  suit.  The  longer  you 
keep  control  of  your  suits  the  more  embarrassment  you 
will  give  your  adversaries,  and  the  more  backward  will 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  427 

be  their  game.  If  your  finesses  lose,  they  lose  because 
of  the  overpowering  strength  against  you.  You  must 
lose,  in  any  event,  unless  the  deep  finesse  wins,  and  if 
one  or  more  of  your  finesses  win  you  may  save  the  game. 
When  the  situation  is  desperate,  it  must  be  met  by  des- 
perate play. 

The  object  in  opening  the  weakest  suit  is  that  unless 
it  finds  partner  with  some  strength  you  will  not  take  a 
trick  in  it.  Your  strengthening  card  may  warrant  him 
in  finesse,  and  if  your  lead  happens  to  be  through  the 
hand  that  is  moderately  strong,  up  to  the  one  who  is 
weak,  the  play  is  advantageous.  Or  your  high  card,  say 
qu  or  kn,  may  force  a  higher  card  from  fourth  hand,  and 
eventually  make  good  a  card  of  medium  rank  for  partner. 
It  is  much  better  for  partner  to  open  the  highest  of  his 
weak  suit  up  to  your  medium  strength,  than  for  you  to 
open  the  suit  up  to  his  weakness.  Suppose  this  case: 
C  has  the  qu  and  two  small;  B  has  k,  kn,  and  two  small; 
D  ace  and  two  small;  A  10,  9,  and  small.  Now,  if  A 
leads  the  10  through  C,  B  passes,  and  D's  ace  is  forced, 
and  when  A  again  leads,  he  leads  the  9  through  C,  and 
A  B  have  two  tricks  in  the  suit.  If,  on  the  other  hand, 
B  opens  the  suit,  the  qu  and  ace  must  make,  and  A  B 
have  but  the  single  trick.  The  single  trick  gained  may 
save  the  desperate  game. 

When  the  forces  against  you  are  evidently  irresistible, 
as  one  hand  marked  with  the  long  trumps  and  a  great 
suit  besides,  there  is  no  room  for  finesse.  If  you  have 
the  master  card,  play  it,  especially  if  it  will  save  the  game. 

Foster 's  "Eleven  Rule."' 

This  is  a  simple  and  useful  rule,  applicable  when  a 
fourth-best  card  is  led.  Those  not  familiar  with  the 


428  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

rank  of  the  cards,  are  often  perplexed  when  a  low  card 
is  led,  in  instantly  ascertaining  the  exact  number  of 
cards  there  are  in  the  suit  higher  than  the  one  led.  For 
example:  the  8  is  the  seventh  in  rank,  the  7  is  the  eighth, 
and  of  course  there  are  six  cards  higher  in  rank  than  the 
former,  and  seven  higher  than  the  latter.  The  rule  is  to 
deduct  from  eleven  the  number  of  pips  on  the  card  led, 
and  the  remainder  is  the  number  of  cards  in  the  suit, 
against  the  leader,  higher  than  the  one  led.  For  example: 
the  7  is  led,  deduct  it  from  n,  and  it  leaves  4,  the  num- 
ber of  cards  in  the  suit,  not  in  leader's  hand,  higher  than 
the  7. 


Listless  Play. 

Errors,  bad  plays,  misconceptions,  are  all  due,  princi- 
pally to  listless  play.  If  the  mind  be  permitted  to  wan- 
der for  an  instant,  an  error  is  almost  sure  to  follow.  A 
single  nod,  and  the  odd  and  the  game  may  go  with  it. 
The  utmost  vigilance  is  demanded  of  the  whist  player. 
Negligent  play  and  good  whist  are  incompatible.  It  will 
not  do  to  simply  stare  upon  the  cards  that  fall,  or  even 
remember  them  in  a  mechanical  way.  You  must  not 
only  see  every  card  that  falls,  but  you  must  know  who 
played  it,  and  the  inference  to  be  drawn  from  the  play 
of  each  card  must  be  noted  at  the  time.  It  will  not  do 
to  lag  a  trick  or  more  in  the  rear. 

The  worst  enemy  to  advancement  in  play  is  a  listless 
manner.  Every  hand  so  played  lowers  the  standard  of 
the  player's  game.  It  is  better  not  to  play  at  all,  than 
to  play  without  earnestness.  Your  game  will  be  more 
improved  by  one  careful  sitting  than  it  can  by  any  number 
of  careless,  half-hearted  ones. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  429 

How  to  Become  Proficient. 

Those  who  care  to  play  whist  well  must  study  the 
game,  and  practice  with  good  players.  Study,  then 
apply  to  practice  what  you  have  learned  in  theory. 
Discuss  the  play;  analyze  it  and  note  the  fine  plays  and 
the  errors.  Do  this  after  the  play  of  the  hand,  never 
during  the  play.  From  the  moment  the  first  card  touches 
the  table  until  the  last  trick  is  turned,  silence  is  the  order. 

Playing  over  printed  games,  or  hands  that  you  may 
have  taken  notes  of,  is  most  excellent  practice.  These 
should  be  analyzed  in  the  most  thorough  manner,  with 
all  the  cards  spread  upon  the  table.  In  this  way  the 
bad  plays  will  be  particularly  impressed  upon  the  mind, 
and  their  disastrous  effects  be  so  marked  and  evident 
that  they  will  not  be  easily  forgotten.  Mark  the  bright 
plays,  and  when  one  occurs  examine  the  situation  and 
endeavor  to  meet  the  play  with  one  as  clever.  Very 
often  a  brilliant  play  by  A  may  be  met  by  one  as  brill- 
iant by  C.  When  a  finesse  or  underplay  occurs  examine 
it,  for  the  success  or  failure  of  the  play  has  nothing  to 
do  with  it.  The  finesse  may  win,  and  through  it  several 
tricks  be  gained,  and  yet  the  play  may  have  been  wholly 
unjustifiable.  On  the  other  hand  the  finesse  may  lose  a 
trick  or  more,  and  yet  be  perfectly  proper  play.  To 
judge  the  propriety  of  a  finesse  you  must  take  into  con- 
sideration all  the  data  furnished  by  the  fall  up  to  the 
point  at  which  the  finesse  was  made,  the  state  of  the 
score,  the  character  of  the  hand  making  the  finesse,  etc., 
all  these  conditions  must  be  considered.  Such  analysis 
as  this  will  convince  you  that  it  is  sometimes  injudicious 
to  finesse  against  a  single  card,  and  again  that  it  is  often 
right  to  risk  a  finesse  against  two  or  three  cards.  Finesse 
is  speculation,  and  if  the  player  is  in  desperate  straits 


430  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

he  must  lake  desperate  chances,  but,  if  he  is  on  nearly 
equal  footing  with  his  opponents,  it  is  evident  that  it  is 
not  sound  policy  to  hazard  a  play  for  a  possible  gain  of  a 
trick  to  \kzprobabU  loss  of  two. 

In  analyzing  the  play  of  hands,  avoid  falling  into  the 
common  error  of  treating  the  play  upon  double  dummy 
principles.  Suppose  in  your  analysis  that  you  find  A 
opened  a  hand  with  4  h;  first  examine  A's  hand  and 
decide  for  yourself  whether  this  was  the  proper  card  to 
lead;  then  see  what  C  played.  Suppose  that  C  played 
the  7,  holding  k,  qu,  7,  now,  do  not  glance  at  the  hands 
of  B  and  D  and  decide  that  C  played  properly,  because 
the  8  happens  to  be  the  best  card  B  has  of  the  suit,  and 
D  wins  the  trick  with  the  9.  You  should  rather  examine 
the  finesse  of  C  from  the  standpoint  of  his  hand  only. 
The  usual  play,  second  hand,  holding  k,  qu  and  small 
card  is  the  qu  and  the  question  is — was  C  justified  in 
departing  from  the  conventional  play  ?  Suppose  that  C 
held  ace,  qu,  10,  8  clubs  (kn  turned  by  D);  ace,  qu,  10 
d;  ace,  qu,  10  s;  and  k,  qu,  7  h,  and  you  decide  at  once 
that  C  would  not  have  played  well  to  have  put  up  the 
qu.  C's  hand  is  exceptional,  it  is  a  series  of  tenaces  in 
all  the  suits,  a  hand  •  to  be  led  to,  rather  than  to  lead 
from.  In  the  event  of  the  trick  going  to  B,  C  is  then 
last  player  to  the  next  trick,  a  position  of  great  advantage 
with  a  hand  like  this.  Observe  this  systematic  course 
through  the  entire  analysis  of  the  hand.  Then  go  back, 
and  have  C  play  qu  at  trick  pne,  and  then  play  best  for 
all,  and  note  the  result.  Do  not  conclude  that  C's 
finesse  was  not  good,  if  by  accident  the  cards  lie  so  that 
he  would  have  made  another  trick  had  he  not  finessed, 
for  the  best  play  does  not  always  make  the  most  tricks. 
A  may  open  a  hand  with  the  5  of  trumps,  holding  ace, 
k,  6,  5,  and  he  may  find  the  qu  and  one  small  with  C, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  431 

and  lose  a  trick  as  against  the  play  of  k  then  ace,  but 
this  result  has  nothing  to  do  with  determining  whether 
A  played  properly. 

If  you  do  not  have  printed  hands,  or  hands  that  you 
have  taken  down  from  play,  deal  out  the  cards  and  play 
the  hands  in  the  best  manner,  and  note  the  results  of  the 
different  variations.  Then  test  the  books.  Try  the  lead 
of  a  singleton  as  against  the  lead  of  the  long  suit.  Force 
partner  early  in  the  play  of  the  hand  before  any  de- 
velopment has  been  made  in  trumps,  and  note  the 
results.  Lead  from  five  small  trumps  and  no  strong 
suit,  or  before  you  have,  in  part  at  least,  established 
your  suit.  Have  partner  miss  your  request  for  trumps, 
and  straightway  force  you.  Lead  trumps  and  have  part- 
ner fail  to  echo,  and  then  go  on  with  an  unnecessary 
round.  Call  simply  because  you  have  five  or  six  trumps. 
Have  partner  discard  from  his  weakest  suit  when  trumps 
are  declared  against,  or  have  him  hold  up  all  his  aces 
and  kings  "  for  re-entry  "  when  you  are  playing  the  strong 
game,  and  he  has  nothing  to  bring  in.  Try  leading 
through  the  calling  hand,  and  if  partner  wins  the  trick 
cheaply  have  him  return  it,  or  if  you  have  availed  your- 
self of  the  opportunity  of  leading  through  the  strong 
hand  up  to  the  weak,  have  him  at  once  return  it.  Lead 
a  thirteener  for  his  best  trump,  and  have  him  pass  it,  or 
lead  it  to  force  the  adversary,  and  have  him  waste  a 
trump  upon  it.  In  short,  have  him  commit  the  different 
whist  atrocities,  and  then  have  him  play  conventionally, 
and  note  the  various  results.  You  will  occasionally  find 
the  unconventional  play  win  more  tricks  than  the  proper 
play,  but,  when  you  do,  note  particularly  if  the  chances 
are  not  against  this  in  the  majority  of  cases. 

Analyses  of  this  nature  will  tend  to  your  rapid  ad- 
vancement. At  the  start  do  not  attempt  too  much,  and 


432  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

become   lost  in  the  intricacies  of  the  game.     Master  one 
thing  at  a  time. 

Duplicate    Whist. 

Duplicate  whist  has,  within  the  last  few  years,  become 
very  popular,  especially  in  match  and  tournament  play. 
The  object  of  this  mode  of  play  is  to  eliminate  the  ele- 
ment of  luck.  As  every  whist  player  knows,  the  prepon- 
derance of  strength  in  cards  may  fall  in  favor  of  a  pair, 
a  team,  or  a  club  for  an  entire  evening,  and  the  score 
may  have  no  value  as  a  measure  of  the  relative  strength 
of  the  contestants.  It  is  true  that  the  fine  players  are 
known.  The  high  order  of  their  play  proves  their  ability, 
no  matter  how  the  score  stands.  This  is  particularly 
obvious  when  the  players  are  of  marked  unequal  strength, 
but  when  teams  of  strong  players  meet,  then,  at  regular 
whist,  the  victory  goes  with  the  players  who  have  by 
accident  held  the  strength  in  cards,  and  under  such  con- 
ditions there  can  be  no  such  thing  as  a  contest. 

Some  players  are  very  much  opposed  to  duplicate 
methods  of  play,  and  claim  that  those  who  indulge  in 
it,  acquire  a  dull  and  spiritless  style,  and  that  their  over- 
cautiousness  renders  them  too  bookish  and  routine.  But, 
even  if  this  be  true,  the  fault  lies  with  the  players,  not  in 
the  system  of  play.  Good  players  have  the  same  scope 
for  brilliant  work  in  the  one  game  as  in  the  other.  In  a 
match  contest  at  duplicate  whist,  the  primary  object  is 
to  make  tricks,  make  the  most  tricks  that  may  be  made 
with  the  cards.  The  secondary  object  is  to  make  them 
in  a  brilliant  manner.  But  should  not  brilliant  play 
result  in  gain  ?  To  say  that  A  made  a  brilliant  play,  a 
fine  coup,  and  lost  a  trick,  is  nonsense  or  sarcasm.  If 
strong  players  play  at  duplicate  whist,  and  lose,  it  means, 
in  the  long  run,  that  they  have  met  stronger  players.  In 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  433 

the  end,  the  strongest  players, -the  players  who  make  the 
most  of  their  cards,  will  come  out  victorious  at  duplicate 
whist.  A  single  sitting  will  not  decide  anything,  but  a 
series  of  sittings  or  matches  will  invariably  mark  the 
stronger  team.  There  is  no  escape  from  this  conclusion. 
There  can  be  no  other  test  of  skill  at  whist  so  perfect 
and  absolute  as  a  long  series  of  matches  between  teams 
of  four  against  four.  The  value  of  the  quality  of  play 
must  be  weighed  by  tricks,  and  by  tricks  only.  If  A  B 
by  brilliant  playing  succeed  in  making  as  many  tricks  as 
C  D,  who  played  the  same  cards  in  a  routine  manner, 
the  applause  is  with  A  B,  but  their  brilliant  play  must  be 
supported  by  the  stubborn  facts — tricks.  It  is  admitted 
that  bad  play  or  unconventional  play  will  occasionally 
result  in  more  tricks  than  good  play.  Four  really  strong 
players  might  be  defeated  in  a  single  sitting  at  duplicate 
whist  by  four  weak  players,  but  this  would  be  phenom- 
enal. So,  also,  four  strong  players  may  lose  to  four 
players  not  quite  so  strong,  through  an  unfortunate 
distribution  of  the  cards,  but  the  fact  remains  that,  in 
the  long  run,  at  duplicate  whist,  the  element  of  "luck  " 
is  practically  eliminated,  and  the  chances  of  the  weaker 
players  is  virtually  nil. 

There  are  various  methods  devised  for  playing  dupli- 
cate whist,  some  of  which  have  very  objectionable  feat- 
ures. For  a  perfect  test  of  skill,  four  players  should 
play  against  four,  and  no  player  should  overplay  the 
same  hand,  and  the  relative  position  of  the  four  players 
should  change  at  every  hand,  that  is  to  say,  each  player 
should  be  dealer,  first,  second,  and  third  hand  an  equal 
number  of  times  during  the  contest. 

All  whist  contests,  all  match  games,  to  carry  with 
them  any  value  as  a  test  of  skill,  must  be  played  in 
duplicate.  This  method  of  playing  whist  renders  it 


434  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

practicable  to  conduct  whist  tournaments,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  ascertaining  the  relative  strength  of  the  contest- 
ants, as  in  other  games  of  skill;  and  for  this,  if  for  nothing 
else,  it  is  a  most  valuable  adjunct  to  the  game  of  whist. 

Pertinent  Axioms. 

"Silence  is  golden." 
Don't  be  in  a  hurry. 
Make  it  easy  for  partner. 
Play  both  hands  as  one. 
In  union  there  is  strength. 
Never  play  a  false  card. 
Play  with  uniform  deliberation. 
Always  do  your  very  best. 
Play  out  every  card  of  the  hand. 
Respect  the  rank  of  the  cards. 
Keep  an  eye  upon  the  score. 
Discuss  the  play  only  between  the  deals. 
Every  hand  is  an  untried  problem. 
Do  not  make  a  hobby  of  the  call. 
Be  fertile  in  attack,  skillful  in  retreat. 
Good  play  may  lose,  bad  play  may  win. 
Avoid  random  shots — you  may  hit  partner. 
Win  with  becoming  modesty  and  dignity. 
Be  conventional  when  it  suits  your  hand. 
A  coup  is  a  well-judged  departure  from  rule. 
Remember  the  trump  card  and  its  relation  to  you. 
Let  the  cards  discourse,  but  the  tongue  be  mute. 
All  rules  stand  second  to  the  fall  of  the  cards. 
If  you  have  a  weak  hand  do  not  emphasize  it. 
Do  not  always  overtrump  simply  because  you  can. 
An  ingenious  placing  of  the   lead   may  be  very  ad- 
vantageous. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  435 

Do  not,  as  a  rule,  unguard  an  honor  or  blank  an  ace. 

Withhold  information  when  you  deem  it  best  to  do  so. 

That  it  "  made  no  difference  "  is  no  palliation  for  a 
bad  play. 

You  gather  the  cards  if  partner  takes  the  first  trick. 

Do  not  call  simply  because  you  have  four  or  more 
trumps. 

Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  the  best  whist. 

Always  count  your  hand  before  a  card  is  played. 

Note  particularly  where  the  strength  in  each  suit  lies. 

Your  first  discard  is  as  important  as  your  first  lead. 

Do  not  deplore  weak  hands  nor  exult  over  strong  ones. 

Keep  your  eyes  on  the  table  and  see  each  card  as  it 
falls. 

Depart  from  rule  at  any  time  to  make  or  save  a  game. 

It  is  a  pure  waste  of  time  to  play  poor  whist. 

Never  hurry — if  you  have  not  time  to  play  two  games, 
play  one. 

When  you  discard  the  best  card  of  a  suit  you  have 
control. 

It  is  fine  play  only  that  merits  admiration  and  praise. 

Play  irregularly  when  it  suits  your  hand  or  that  of 
your  partner. 

If  you  win  with  invincible  cards  your  victory  is  cheap. 

The  highest  order  of  play  does  not  always  make  the 
most  tricks. 

Note  the  play  of  your  adversaries  as  carefully  as  that 
of  your  partner. 

You  should  have  most  excellent  reasons  for  passing  a 
winning  card. 

Re-entry  cards  are  valueless  unless  you  have  something 
to  bring  in. 

Make  no  demonstrations  of  approval  or  disapproval  at 
any  time. 


436  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

You  should  always  play  the  best  whist  of  which  you 
are  capable. 

First  learn  to  play  by  rule,  then  learn  when  to  depart 
from  rule. 

When  you  discard  the  second-best  card  of  a  suit  you 
should  have  no  more. 

When  it  is  evident  that  your  line  of  play  is  not  prac- 
ticable, abandon  it. 

The  combination  of  forces  is  the  theory  of  modern 
scientific  whist. 

When  trumps  are  declared  against  you,  discard  from 
your  best  suit. 

False,  forced,  irregular  or  bad  play  may  prove  a  source 
of  doubt  or  error. 

You  can  draw  inferences  early  in  the  play  with  almost 
absolute  certainty. 

It  is  as  important  to  see  your  opponents'  call  or  echo 
as  it  is  to  see  your  partner's. 

Be  careful  about  reading  second  hand  play  for  a  call — 
it  may  be  a  cover. 

Do  not  play  as  though  you  were  afraid  your  partner 
might  take  a  trick. 

Be  careful  how  you  throw  a  singleton  early  in  the 
hand — it  mny  be  partner's  great  suit. 

When  you  accept  a  partner,  you  accept  him  as  he  is, 
not  as  you  might  wish  him  to  be. 

When  you  see  a  way  to  win,  take  that  way,  no  matter 
what  the  conventional  guide-posts  read. 

Take  it  for  granted  that  your  partner  is  a  whist  player 
until  you  know  that  he  is  not. 

When  you  do  not  know  what  card  to  play,  somebody 
has  been  playing  poor  whist — yourself,  most  likely. 

Each  card  thrown  has  something  to  say,  and  you 
should  be  equally  attentive  to  all. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  437 

Read  only  the  cards,  and  never  attempt  to  draw  infer- 
ences from  the  mannerisms  of  the  players. 

Use  your  eyes  and  your  head,  not  your  fists  or  your 
feet ;  physical  whist  is  in  bad  form. 

Playing  for  a  ruff  is  cheap  whist,  and  there  is  nearly 
always  something  better  to  play  for. 

Theoretical  perfection  must  be  accompanied  with 
acute  perception  in  order  to  play  good  whist. 

Do  not.  discard  too  close  in  partner's  great  suit  ;  you 
may  need  more  than  one  or  two  cards  of  it. 

Play  a  poor  hand  with  as  much  care  as  a  good  one,  for 
the  game  may  be  won  or  lost  by  the  play  of  a  "  Yar- 
borough." 

Do  not  draw  inferences  too  rigidly,  nor  from  them 
form  a  line  of  play  that  you  may  not  easily  abandon. 

Draw  your  inferences  in  the  middle  or  end  hand, 
subject  to  the  fact  that  the  play  may  be  forced  or 
irregular. 

Do  not  refuse  to  take  a  trick  unless  the  chances  are 
that  you  will  eventually  take  two  in  lieu  of  the  one  you 
pass. 

Throw  your  card  upon  the  table  near  the  centre,  but 
avoid  throwing  it  so  that  it  will  slide  under  those  already 
played. 

The  finesse  of  the  6  against  the  possible  7  is  a  brighter 
play  than  the  major  tenace  finesse,  and  often  more 
effective. 

Do  not  ignore  the  value  of  the  little  cards  ;  they,  like 
the  pawns  at  chess,  have  their  duty  to  perform  after  the 
big  fellows  have  fallen  in  battle. 

There  is  no  easy  way  to  learn  to  play  whist ;  you  can- 
not go  across  lots;  you  must  tramp  the  old  turnpike-road 
— study  and  practice. 

Do  not  "  blow  up  "  your  partner  if  he  makes  a  blun- 


43  8  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

der,  if  he  is  worth  having  for  a  partner,  he  knows  he  has 
blundered  as  well  as  you  do. 

Do  not  forget  the  inferences  you  drew  early  in  the 
play  of  the  hand,  for  they  are  the  guide-posts  that  point 
the  way  to  final  victory,  and  the  simplest  one  forgotten 
may  be  the  cause  of  your  ultimate  ruin. 

Theory  leads  you  smoothly  enough  along  the  well- 
trodden  paths  of  the  opening  play;  but  when  you  enter 
into  the  depths  of  the  after  play,  you  lose  your  way  if 
you  have  not  accurate  judgment  to  fall  back  upon. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  439 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


COUNTING     THE    HANDS. 

IN  order  to  play  whist  well  it  is  necessary  to  read  the 
fall  of  the  cards  with  moderate  rapidity.  The  simpler 
inferences  can  be  drawn  rapidly,  and  with  but  little 
mental  effort.  To  do  this  the  players  must  be  very  familiar 
with  the  leads,  the  unblocking  play,  the  call,  the  trump 
echo  and  all  the  recognized  conventions  of  whist  play. 

To  remember  the  cards  that  have  been  played  is  a 
comparatively  small  matter,  but  to  be  able  to  read  the 
cards  as  they  fall,  and  carry  the  information  afforded  to 
the  end  of  the  hand,  is  a  matter  of  the  greatest  import- 
ance. It  is  very  essential  to  note  the  fall  of  the  small 
cards,  and  to  mark  the  absence  of  any  small  card  that 
naturally  should  have  fallen,  for  the  fact  that  a  small 
card  is  missing,  is  notice  that  some  one  has  withheld  its 
play  for  a  definite  purpose. 

A  great  many  inferences  may  be  drawn  from  the  lead 
and  follow  that  should  require  but  little  mental  effort. 
For  instance,  if  A  leads  the  ace,  as  an  original  lead,  and 
follows  with  the  qu,  B  should  know  intuitively,  that  A 
has  the  kn  and  one  small  card  yet  in  hand.  If  the  ace  is 
followed  by  the  kn,  the  queen  and  two  others  are  pro- 
claimed. Such  inferences  as  these  all  the  players  should 
read  without  any  studying  or  counting.  If  a  player 


440 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST, 


must  stop  to  think,  or  if  he  is  in  the  least  doubt,  he  can- 
not play  good  whist,  for  the  mind  should  not  be  harassed 
with  things  that  should  be  known  without  mental  effort. 
A  number  of  exercises  follow,  and  these  should  be 
thoroughly  examined,  as  they  will  aid  the  unadvanced 
in  becoming  proficient  in  counting  the  hands. 


No.  i. — Ace,  Then  King. 


A's  cards  — 


**+ 

*** 

*** 
*** 

* 
* 
* 

* 

* 

TRICK  i. 


TRICK  2. 


Remark  (Trick   i). — This  is   a  v^ry  ordinary  round, 
and  yet  it  must  put  the  quartette  to  thinking,  and  on  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  441 

alert  for  the  next  round.  C,  B  and  D  each  notes  that 
the  deuce  and  trey  have  not  fallen,  and  they  know  that 
A  must  have  both  of  these  cards,  unless  some  one  is  call- 
ing or  B  unblocking,  and  all  mark  that  comparatively 
high  cards  have  been  played. 

Trick  2. — The  fall  is  very  informatory.  A  can  place 
the  remaining  card  of  the  suit,  and  all  because  one  small 
card  has  not  fallen.  Suppose  that  D  had  played  the  5 
and  not  the  6,  in  the  second  round,  then  A  could  not 
place  a  single  card  in  the  suit.  Mark  how  important  it 
is  for  A  to  know  that  the  5  has  not  come  out.  C  has  not 
the  5  as  he  would  have  played  it  to  the  first  trick,  and 
not  the  8;  D  would  have  played  the  5,  if  with  him,  and 
not  the  6.  (There  is  a  possibility  that  C  or  D  began  a 
call  and  abandoned  it,  but  this  contingency  is  hardly 
worth  considering,  and  will  not  be  referred  to  hereafter.) 
A  not  having  the  5,  gives  it  to  B.  Why  did  B  not  play 
it  to  the  first  trick  instead  of  the  7  ?  The  answer  to  this 
is  that  B  began  to  unblock  the  first  round,  and  so  must 
have  held  exactly  four  cards  of  the  suit.  A  has  denied 
the  qu,  but  admitted  five  in  suit,  consequently  B  must 
have  the  qu  and  5.  B  knows,  of  course,  that  A  has  the 
10,  3,  2.  C  reads  that  if  D  has  the  qu,  A  must  hold  the 
I0>  5>  3>  2>  f°r  if  B  has  not  the  qu  he  cannot  have  the  5. 
The  student  will  mark  that  the  information  published  by 
the  conventional  play  of  A  and  B  is  all  in  their  favor,  and 
that  while  C  and  D  can  also  read  the  probable  position  of 
the  remaining  cards  of  the  suit,  they  cannot  absolutely 
place  the  suit  as  A  and  B  can.  Note  also  that  if  B  does 
not  adopt  the  unblocking  tactics,  that  A  cannot  place 
the  remaining  cards  of  the  suit,  for  if  B  plays  first  the  5, 
then  7,  the  qu  and  kn  may  be,  for  anything  A  can  read, 
with  either  C  or  D,  and  this  would  make  a  very  material 
difference  in  A's  game. 


442 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


A's  cards  — 


No.  2. — Ace,    Then  Queen. 

!*II:HI  r*~* 
*  * 


TRICK  i. 


TRICK  2. 


Remark  (Trick  i). — It  will  not  do  to  conclude  that  B 
is  short  of  the  suit  because  he  plays  so  high  a  card  as 
the  9,  for  he  may  be  unblocking  and  calling.  C  is  evi- 
dently short  in  the  suit,  and  D  may  be  long. 

Trick  2. — Here  the  fall  is  very  informatory.  A,  by 
the  play  of  ace,  then  qu,  denies  the  ten  and  announces  a 
suit  of  four  cards.  A  can  place  the  cards  exactly,  the 
deuce  has  not  fallen  and  he  gives  it  to  B,  who  has  called 
and  unblocked.  B  must  have  one  card  higher  than  the 
9,  and  is  therefore  marked  with  the  10,  2.  D  must  have 
the  7,  and  C  void.  B  cannot  tell  whether  the  7  or  the 
6  is  with  A,  but  he  knows  that  D  has  one  or  the  other. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


443 


No.  3. — Ace,   Then  Knave. 


A's  cards  — 


TRICK  i. 


TRICK  2. 


Remark  (Trick  i). — A  reads  that  B  has  not  exactly 
four  cards  of  the  suit,  and  is  not  calling. 

Trick  2. — A  shows  the  qu  and  at  least  three  small 
cards  yet  in  hand.  B  played  the  k  on  his  partner's  kn 
to  get  out  of  the  way.  Had  C  renounced  or  trumped 
the  second  round,  then  B  must  have  thrown  the  3,  which 
the  fall  shows  must  be  in  his  hand.  In  the  event  of  C 
not  following  suit  to  the  kn,  the  10  and  two  others  could 
be  with  D,  and  a  trick  might  be  lost  by  B  attempting  to 
unblock. 


444 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST, 


No.  4. — Ace,   Then  10. 


A's  cards  — 


TRICK  i. 


++* 


*     * 


B 

?: 


D 


TRICK  2. 


Remark. — A  and  B  can  count  the  suit  with  accuracy. 
A  knows  that  B  has  the  k,  3,  and  D  the  6,  5.  B  must 
have  unblocked,  as  the  3  has  not  fallen,  and  A  has 
denied  all  but  qu  and  the  kn,  for  if  A  held  one  or 
more  small  cards,  he  would  have  followed  the  ace  with 
the  kn,  it  being  of  more  importance  to  show  the  numer- 
ical strength  than  to  show  the  10.  B  and  C  also  know 
that  D  has  the  6,  5,  and  D  that  B  has  the  k,  3. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST, 

No.  5.— Ace,    Then  9. 


A's  cards  — 


***+ 

:*: 


*&* 

*** 
*   * 


445 


TRICK  i. 


|*-¥ 


TRICK  2. 


Remark  (Trick  i). — A  reads  that  B  has  not  exactly 
four  cards  of  the  suit  and  is  not  calling. 

Trick  2. — The  second  round  shows  that  B  can  have 
no  more.  A  must  have  qu,  10,  2  for  the  ace  then  9  (the 
kn  falling)  marks  the  qu,  10,  and  as  the  3  has  not  come 
out  it  must  be  with  A.  The  only  cards  that  cannot  be 
placed  are  the  k  and  5;  the  k  may  be  with  either  C  or 
D;  the  5  may  be  with  either  C  or  A.  Here  is  a  good 
point  in  second  hand  play.  Suppose  D  has  the  k,  C  the 
5,  then  if  C  plays  the  5  to  the  second  trick,  the  9  forces 
D's  k,  and  a  trick  is  lost.  When  ace  is  led  followed 
with  the  9,  second  hand  holding  kn  and  two  others 
originally,  must  play  the  kn  on  the  9,  for  if  k  is  in  third 
hand  no  harm  is  done,  if  in  fourth  hand,  a  trick  may 
be  gained. 


446 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


No.  6— King,   Then  Small. 


A's  cards  — 


*** 

+  * 

*** 


TRICK  i. 


*  * 

*  * 


*    * 


D 


TRICK  2. 


Remark  (Trick  i). — The  presumption  here  is  that  A 
or  B  has  the  ace,  but  this  inference  must  be  drawn  sub- 
ject to  the  fact  that  the  opponents  may  be  holding  up. 
It  is  a  common  artifice,  C  or  D  holding  ace,  kn  to  pass 
the  k  led.  A  must  have,  however,  either  ace  or  qu,  or 
both,  and  he  can  have  but  three  more  cards  in  the  suit. 
B  may  have  exactly  four  cards  of  the  suit,  though  play- 
ing the  2,  for  when  k  is  led,  third  hand  does  not  unblock, 
holding  four  in  suit. 

Trick  2. — B  must  have  the  ace,  3  yet  in  hand;  C  can 
have  no  more,  and  D  the  9  or  void. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

No.  7. — Queen,    Then  Ace. 
RX 


A's  cards  — 


447 


TRICK  i. 


TRICK  2. 


B 


*A* 

4-~* 
•?•  .  * 

*     + 
4».* 
4.*4. 

4.  4- 

*** 

•!• 

*** 

4.     4. 

*** 

c 

* 

D 

C 

*    * 

4.    4. 

D 

4.  * 

"S^T- 

* 

4.    * 

*** 

\" 

Is! 

j. 

* 

f 

A 

\ 

r 

A 

Remark  (Trick  i). — A  knows  that  B  has  the  kn  or  no 
more,  or  had  four  exactly,  and  is  calling  and  unblocking. 

Trick  2. — The  fall  is  very  informatory.  A  shows  by 
the  play  of  the  qu,  then  ace,  the  k  and  just  two  small 
cards.  The  cards  that  have  come  out  in  these  two 
rounds  show  that  C  and  D  can  have  no  more  of  the  suit. 
The  6,  5,  2  have  not  fallen.  A  cannot  have  all  three,  as 
he  has  proclaimed  but  five  in  suit;  these  three  cards  are 
all  lower  in  rank  than  the  cards  C  and  D  have  played 
to  the  last  trick,  and  unless  C  or  D  began  a  call  on  the 
second  round,  they  can  have  none  of  these  cards,  and 
one  of  them  must  be  with  B.  If  B  had  one  of  these 
cards  and  not  the  kn  also,  he  would  have  called  by  first 
playing  the  9  and  then  the  small  card.  It  is  evident 
that  B  must  have  held  kn,  10,  9  and  one  of  these  small 
cards,  and  that  A  can  read  that  B  has  called  and  un- 


448 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


blocked.  Note  how  important  this  information  is  to  A, 
and  that  if  he  failed  to  read  the  play,  or  if  B  had  not 
adopted  the  unblocking  game,  how  much  in  doubt  A 
would  be  as  to  the  location  of  the  kn. 


No.  8.  —  The  Knave  Led. 


A's  cards— 


*  4- 

*  * 

4.    4. 

*  * 

* 

4.  4. 

4.    4- 

4.    4. 

TRICK  i. 


TRICK  2. 


Remark. — The  rest  of  the  suit  must  be  with  A.  C 
can  have  no  more,  D  must  be  void — playing  the  9.  If 
B  held  three  or  more  of  the  suit  originally,  he  would 
have  passed  the  kn  led  by  A.  By  passing  the  10,  A  in- 
forms B  that  he  does  not  care  to  have  the  lead. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


449 


No.  p. — The  10  Led. 


TRICK  i. 


TRICK  i. 


Remark. — It  can  be  demonstrated  from  the  fall  alone, 
where  the  remaining  cards  of  the  suit  are.  A's  lead  of 
the  10  announced  the  k,  kn;  C's  play  of  the  qu  then  3, 
shows  that  he  can  have  no  more.  D's  play  of  the  9 
marks  him  as  void,  and  A's  play  of  the  k,  in  the  second 
round,  shows  that  he  led  from  exactly  four  in  the  suit, 
for  had  A  five  or  more  in  the  suit,  he  would  have  played 
the  kn  on  the  return  of  the  suit.  B  must  have  three 
cards  of  the  suit  yet  in  hand,  and  these  three  cards  must 
be  the  8,  7,  6;  the  deuce  cannot  be  one,  for  if  he  held 
the  deuce  he  would  have  returned  it,  and  not  the  5.  A 
must  have  the  kn,  2  yet  in  hand.  The  information 
imparted  by  the  fall  in  these  two  rounds  is  unusually 
definite. 


45° 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


No.  io.—  The  p  Led. 


A's  cards  — 


A* 

** 


*     * 


*     * 


TRIG 

K    I. 

B 

TRICK  2. 
(B  to  lead 

) 

B 

*v 

*    * 

* 

*A* 
A     A 

V 

f>&<  \ 

*      A 

A 

A 

**A 

*    * 

C 

A 

D 

C 

D 

A      * 

A      A 

A 

A 

*A* 

A** 

A     A 

4- 

A** 
*     * 

*A* 
A** 

V 

A 

A 

Remark  (Trick  i). — A,  by  the  lead  of  the  9,  shows  four 
cards  only,  and  the  ace,  10  is  proclaimed,  and  either  the 
qu  or  kn.  C  is  marked  with  one  small  only,  as  with  k 
and  more  than  one  small  he  would  have  played  small. 

Trick  2  — B,  by  returning  the  8,  can  have  but  the  7  or 
6,  or  no  more.  A  finesses  the  10  on  the  return,  and  this 
he  would  do  holding  either  ace,  qu,  10  or  ace,  kn,  10, 
for  C  cannot  have  the  qu  or  kn.  B  cannot  tell  whether 
D  has  the  qu  or  kn.  A  will  not  go  on  with  the  suit 
unless  he  has  ace,  qu,  but  will  wait  to  have  B  come 
through  D  again. 


MODERN   SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


No.  ii.—  The  8  Led. 


A's  cards  — 


*A* 

*** 

*A* 
*** 

*A* 

V 

*** 

TRICK  i. 


TRICK  2. 


Remark  (Trick  i). — What  a  story  from  the  fall  in  this 
round.  A  reads  B  with  at  least  the  qu,  9,  2;  he  must 
have  these,  probably  the  king  also;  if  B  has  the  k  he 
must  also  have  the  qu,  9,  he  cannot  have  k,  qu,  nor  the 
k  or  qu,  and  not  the  9,  for  in  either  case  he  must  then 
have  played  one  of  these  cards. 

Trick  2. — The  fall  in  this  round  marks  B  with  the  qu, 
9,  5,  and  B  very  properly  passed  the  8  first  round,  for 
he  could  read  that  A's  8  must  hold  the  trick  or  force  the 
k — the  one  card  against.  To  put  up  the  qu,  would  only 
withhold  valuable  information  from  A.  C  should  have 
played  k  on  the  8  led,  as  with  k  and  one  small,  the  8 
led,  there  is  no  avail  in  keeping  the  king. 


452 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


.  12.— The     Led. 


A's  cards  — 


** 

*A* 
*** 


*      * 

** 
* 
A 


:*: 


TRICK  i. 


B 


^.  RENOUNCES. 

4* 
* 

* 

*** 

*    * 

4.    4. 

A 


Remark. — An  unusual  distribution  of  a  suit  will  often 
confuse  the  novice  where  the  advanced  player  will  at 
once  read  the  location  of  every  material  card.  This  is 
a  case  in  point.  A  at  once  reads  B  with  the  qu,  kn,  8. 
B,  knowing  that  the  7  will  force  the  ace  or  k,  that  must 
be  with  D,  passes,  simply  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  A 
to  read  the  situation. 


TRICK  i. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

No.  ij  —  The  6  Led. 
TRICK  2. 


453 


Remark. — The  lower  the  rank  of  the  card  led,  the  less 
positive  information  it  imparts.  Yet  there  are  always 
inferences  to  be  drawn  that  are  important  and  may  be 
missed.  The  fall  in  these  two  rounds  shows  that  the  qu 
is  against  A  B;  that  B  has  the  4  or  no  more;  A  two  of 
these  three  cards — 9,  8,  7. 


TRICK 


No.  14.—  The  Deuce  Led. 
TRICK  2. 


Remark. — This  card  of  lowest  rank  has  always  inter- 


454  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

esting  information  to  impart.  The  fall  to  the  first  round 
does  not  afford  much  positive  information.  B  may  have 
the  ace.  The  second  round  marks  D  as  void,  B  with  at 
least  two  more,  C  at  most  one  more.  A,  holding  k,  kn, 
8,  2  originally,  knows  from  the  fall  that  B  must  have  the 
4,  and  so  at  least  one  more,  and  that  C,  if  he  has  the  9, 
does  not  have  it  guarded,  and  hence  the  suit  is  estab- 
lished. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  455 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 


CRITICAL    ENDINGS. 

THE  end-hand  in  whist  is  very  often  susceptible  of 
brilliant  treatment.  It  is  here  that  the  liability  to  error 
is  greatest.  To  insure  correctness  in  end-play,  the  most 
consummate  understanding  of  the  entire  game  is  requisite. 
In  the  intricacies  of  the  ending  the  ordinary  player  not 
infrequently  misses  the  way,  and  with  it  the  one  trick  to 
be  played  for.  You  must  enter  the  end-hand  equipped 
with  all  the  inferences  drawn  from  the  previous  fall.  It 
is  here  the  clever  things,  the  brilliant  coups,  the 
extempore  strategy  is  elicited;  and  beautiful,  indeed,  is 
the  denouement  of  a  well-fought  hand  that  ends  with 
some  artistic  and  unexpected  stroke.  A  number  of  end- 
ings, illustrating  some  well-known  principles,  are  given, 
which  should  be  carefully  examined  by  the  student. 
Many  are  very  simple,  others  intricate.  The  simplest, 
however,  are  worthy  the  attention  of  players  who  are  not 
familiar  with  the  strategy  of  the  game,  and  it  is,  indeed, 
surprising  how  many  people  play  at  whist,  from  youth  to 
old  age,  and  never  suspect  they  have  overlooked  the 
simplest  points  in  whist  play. 


456 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Ending  i. —  Winning  Partner  s  Trick. 


(Diamonds  trumps — B  leader.) 


This  simple  ending  is  of  very  frequent  occurrence, 
and  the  principle  involved  may  come  up  in  a  variety  of 
ways. 

i. — B  leads  7  d;  D  plays  4;  A  plays  10  d,  and  draws 
the  last  trump  from  D.  Had  A,  knowing  the  7  was  good, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


457 


thrown  the  6,  D  must  have  made  his  last  trump.     Here 
is  another  phase: — 


Ending  2. —  Trumping  Partner  s  Trick. 


X 


*   * 


B 
C                                D 
A 

o  o 

o  o 

73 

o-  e>  E> 

£>£>£> 

00 


0     0 

*  * 

o 

* 

o   o 

*  * 

(Diamonds  trumps — B  leader.) 


i. — B  leads  kn  s;  A  plays  10  d;  C  plays  2  h. 

A  trumps  his  partner's  trick  that  he  may  draw  C's  last 
trump.  This  is  so  simple  that  one  would  imagine  that 
no  one  could  ever  blunder  in  it,  yet  often  the  odd  is  lost 
in  just  such  a  situation  as  this.  If  A,  knowing  that  the 
kn  is  the  best  spade  in,  throws  the  club,  he  lets  the  small 
trump  make.  A  should  trump,  in  such  situations,  even 
if  he  is  not  sure  his  remaining  card  is  good  ;  for,  if 
it  is  not,  the  best  may  be  with  partner,  or,  if  with 


458 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


opponent,  he  may  throw  it, — a  trick  is  lost  for  sure  if  he 
does  not  trump  and  draw  the  trump. 

Ending  3. — Putting  Partner  in  by  Leading  Your  Last 
Trump. 


*^* 
*  * 

*_* 


B 

C 

D 

A 

[4~~4] 

~V| 

*   * 

|<^f|> 

0    0 

4 

0      0 

4    4 

4 

•!-    4* 

1  jf 

O    0 

(Clubs  trumps — A  leader.) 

C  D  have  losing  hearts  and  diamonds,  but  the  best 
spades;  B  is  marked  with  the  7  of  trumps  and  the  kn  of 
hearts;  he  unblocked  in  diamonds,  and  must  have  the  2; 
A  is  in,  and  requires  every  trick  to  make  the  game: — 

i. — A  leads  4  c;  B  plays  7;  and  then  leads  the  kn  and 
8  of  hearts,  giving  A  two  discards  in  spades,  and  then 
leads  the  2  of  d — and  the  game  is  won. 

The  inference  A  has  drawn  early  in  the  play,  and  car- 
ried with  him  to  the  ending,  enables  him  to  win  by  what 
appears  poor  play,  viz.,  drawing  the  last  trump  from  his 
partner. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  459 

Ending  4.— Putting  Opponent  to  the  Discard. 


(Clubs  trumps — A  leader.) 


A  has  the  last  two  trumps — clubs;  C  is  marked  with 
the  kn  and  a  small  d,  and  the  best  hearts;  B  king  and 
small  d  and  losing  h. 

i. — A  leads  8  c;  C  plays  qu  h;  B  plays  3  h. 

C  is  put  to  the  discard  here  and  throws  the  h,  which 
is  better  than  the  d,  as  it  forces  A  to  make  the  best  play 
or  lose  a  trick. 

2. — A  leads  4  c;  the  last  trump;  there  is  now  no  es- 
cape for  C,  if  he  throws  the  heart,  B  throws  the  d;  if  the 
d,  B  the  h,  and  A  B  take  all  the  tricks.  A,  by  putting  C 
to  two  discards,  makes  good  for  B  either  the  small  h  or 
d.  B  must  be  awake  here,  and  discard  subject  to  the 
cards  C  throws.  When  you  are  left  with  the  last  trump 


460 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


and  a  losing  card  of  suit,  you  will,  of  course,  always  lead 
the  trump  for  you  may  find  one  of  the  opponents  with 
two  winning  cards  of  different  suits,  and  if  your  card 
cannot  be  placed  or  if  through  carelessness  he  throws  the 
wrong  card,  you  gain  a  trick. 


Ending  j. — Leading  Thirteenth  Trump  to  Force  a  Discard. 


B 


3    <3    <3 
<3    <3    ' 


(Clubs  trumps — A  leader.) 


A  is  left  with  a  losing  heart  and  the  last  trump;  he 
should  lead  the  trump,  and  if  C  throws  the  h  and  B 
should  have  no  heart,  he  gains  a  trick.  A  leads  4  c;  C 
throws  qu  h;  D  should  now  throw  king  of  d,  for  it  is 
certain  that  C  is  holding  a  d,  and  if  A's  small  card  is  a 
heart  D  wins  it,  if  a  d,  C« 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


461 


Ending  6. — Leading  Thirteenth  Trump  to  Gain  Informa- 
tion from  the  Discard. 


9 

9 

0°0 

o 

o 

B 
C                             D 
A 

*  * 

<3       <3 
•0  <3  <3<3 

£>  e> 
D*  ^ 

<3           <3 
<3 
<3           <3 

£>£>£>£> 
£>£>£>£> 

^.4.4.^ 
4.^.4.  4> 

X 

9   9 

0     0 

o  o 

(Spades  trumps — A  leader.) 


You  sometimes  find  it  of  advantage  to  lead  the  thir- 
teenth trump  in  order  to  gain  information  from  the  fall. 
A,  in  the  above  ending  holds  the  last  trump — a  spade, 
and  a  losing  d  and  h  and  is  in  doubt  as  to  where  the 
master  cards  in  these  two  suits  lie.  B  may  have  a  win- 
ning h  ord  but  A  is  uncertain  which. 

i. — A  leads  thirteenth  trump;  C  plays  2  c;  B  plays  3 
h;  D  plays  5  h. 

A  now  gives  B  the  best  d  and  leads  the  4,  and  A  B 
take  all  the  tricks.  Had  A  selected  the  heart  at  random, 
a  trick  would  have  been  lost. 


462 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Ending  7. — Trumping  a  Thir teener. 


B 


** 

*** 
*** 


(Spades  trumps — A  leader.) 


D 


Here  is  an  ending  illustrating  a  point  that  comes  up 
very  often  in  end-play,  and  simple  as  it  is  even  fair 
players  often  lose  a  trick.  Spades  are  trumps;  four  are 
yet  in — two  of  which  are  marked  with  D. 

i. — A  leads  the  thirteenth  c;  B,  having  a  losing  trump, 
reads  that  A  has  led  the  thirteenerfor  his  last  trump,  that 
it  may  force  the  play  of  D's  master  trump,  making  good 
A's  second-best  trump.  If  the  position  of  the  4  and  2 
are  reversed  no  harm  results,  as  in  this  event  D  must 
make  both  tricks.  You  should  always  trump  a  thir- 
teenth card  led  by  partner  at  trick  twelve  when  your  left- 
hand  opponent  is  marked  with  two  and  your  partner  with 
one  trump.  The  4  in  the  last  example  makes  the  qu 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


463 


good,  and  if  the  trumps  are  exchanged  with  A  B,  the  re- 
sult will  be  the  same— the  qu  making  the  4  good.  If, 
however,  the  opponent  has  but  one  trump  and  that  the 
best,  the  thirteenth  is  led  to  force  it,  and  you.  of  course, 
do  not  trump  it,  as  in  the  following: — 


Ending  8.— Passing  a   Thirteenth. 


V 

0    O 
O    0 


B 


*** 

0 

*** 


0     0 


(Spades  trumps— A  leader.) 


D 


i. — A  leads  10  c  ;  here  it  is  led  for  B  to  pass,  for  if  B 
trumps  both  tricks  are  lost.  These  are  simple  cases  and 
the  purpose  of  the  thirteener  is  easy  to  devine,  but  end- 
ings of  this  nature  occur  wherein  you  must  carefully 


464 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


read  the  situation,  and  to  do  this  you  must  have  at  hand 
all  the  inferences  from  the  previous  rounds.   Suppose: — 


Ending  p.— Passing  a  Thirtcener  to  Preserve  Your 
Tenace. 


c 

B 
A 

D 

m 

•»•>•> 
*  >^  * 

oooo| 

O 
OOOOj 

E 

o'~~o 

0    <0> 
O     0 

*.* 
*** 

*** 

*** 

(Spades  trumps — A  leader). 


i. — A  leads  the  thirteenth  c,  reading  D  with  the  prob- 
able tenace  over  B.  B  must  pass  or  lose  all  three  tricks. 
Once  more: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


465 


Ending  10. — Trumping  a   Thirteener  to  Make  Your 
Partner's  Trump  Tenace. 


c 

B 
A 

D 

*  >  * 

*       >» 

ooool 
o 

:*: 

*    * 

*** 

*** 

*** 

(Spades  trumps — A  leader.) 


Here  the  situation  is  not  so  easily  read. 

i. — A  leads  the  thirteenth  c;  B  must  trump  or  lose  a 
trick.  A  was  forced  to  lead  the  c,  as  the  lead  of  a  trump 
also  loses  a  trick. 

The  last  six  endings  illustrate  the  value  and  use  of 
thirteenth  cards  in  end-play,  and  the  student  will  see  the 
necessity  of  carefully  considering  the  object  of  a  thir- 
teenth card  when  led  by  a  good  partner  or  opponent. 
You  may  throw  away  a  well-played  game  by  trumping  a 
thirteener  when  you  should  not,  or  by  not  trumping 
when  you  should. 


466  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Ending  n. — Refusing  to  Overtrump. 


(Hearts  trumps — B  leader.) 


Care  should  be  taken  in  overtrumping  late  in  hand,  or 
at  any  time,  when  you  have  the  second  and  fourth  best 
trump,  especially  if  you  need  but  one  trick  to  make  or 
save  the  game.  It  is  also  dangerous  to  trump  when^« 
may  be  overtrumped.  In  the  above  ending  a  trick  is  lost 
if  A  does  not  refuse  to  overtrump. 

i. — B  leads  k  c;  D  trumps;  A  overtrumps;  C,  in  turn, 
overtrumps  A,  draws  his  last  trump  and  makes  the 
spades.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  A  refuses  to  overtrump, 
he  must  make  his  g  of  trumps.  Such  positions  are  of 
frequent  occurrence.  Of  course  there  are  situations  the 
reverse  of  this,  and  if  you  do  not  overtrump  you  lose  a 
trick.  In  this  example,  A  being  able  to  read  the  dia- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


467 


monds  with  D  should  have  thrown  the  6  d;  D  must  have 
gone  on  with  a  d  and  A's  9  d  would  have  forced  C  to 
take  or  yield  the  immediate  trick. 


Ending  12. — Overtrumping. 


(Spades  trump — A  leader.) 

Here  is  a  phase  of  overtrumping  that  frequently  turns 
up.  The  hands  can  be  read;  A  is  in,  and  if  he  leads 
either  a  trump  or  d,  he  loses  every  trick. 

i. — A  leads  3  c,  C  plays  5  c;  B  plays  5  d;  D  plays 
kn  c. 

2. — D  leads  ace  c;  A  trumps:  C  plays  7  h;  B  plays 
4  h. 

If  C  overtrumps  A  he  loses  a  trick,  for  he  must  then 
lead  a  heart  to  B,  but,  by  passing,  he  forces  A  to  lead  his 


468 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


minor  tenace  in  d  up  to  D's  major  tenace.  A  having  no 
heart  to  give  B,  he  must  throw  the  lead  into  D's  hand 
and  trust  to  C  making  the  blunder  of  overtrumping. 


Ending  13. — Refusing  10  Trump  a  Sure  Trick. 


o/s'o 

0^0 
000 
00 

°0° 

0    0 

0    0 

°   1 

° 
o  1 

B 

£> 

*  4.  * 
*  *  * 

O    O    0 

o  o  o 

C 

D 

*       * 
* 
*       * 

o  o  o 
o  o 
o  o  o 

*       * 
*       * 

A 

1*** 
*** 

*** 
b£* 

*** 
*  * 

1*  * 

* 

_*_ 

(Diamonds  trump — A  leader.) 


C  knows  that  B  has  a  superfluous  trump. 

i. — A  leads  10  c;  C  plays  ace  h;  B  plays  3  d;  D  plays 
40. 

C  here  throws  the  ace  h,  refusing  to  trump,  as  he 
knows  B  has  three  trumps  and  that  he  must  trump  his 
partner's  trick.  If  C  trumps  the  10  c,  although  a  sure 
winning  card,  he  loses  a  trick.  B  may  have  missed  the 
grand  coup  here,  some  tricks  back,  and  in  such  cases 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


469 


you  must,  like  C,  prevent  him  from  recovering  the  lost 
opportunity. 

Ending  14. — Refusing  to  Draw  the  Losing   Trump. 


(Diamonds  trumps — A  leader.) 

B  has  shown  s  as  his  suit;  hearts  are  established  in 
D's  hand;  C  can  have  but  one  heart  and  the  losing 
trump  and  three  spades.  A  is  in  and  should  not  draw 
the  losing  trump,  but  lead  the  king  s,  to  clear  up  B's 
suit.  Note  the  play: 

i —A  leads  k  s;  C  plays  ace  s;  B  plays  2  s;  D  plays 

9  s. 

2.— C  leads  3  h;  B  plays   8  s;  D  plays  kn  h;  A  plays 

10  h. 

3.— D  leads  qu  h;  A  trumps;  C  plays 4  s;  B  plays  IDS. 
4— A  leads  5  s;  C  plays  6  s;  B  plays  kn  s;  D  plays 
2  h. 


470 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


And  A  B  have  two  tricks.     If  on  the  other  hand — 

i. — A  leads  8  d;  C  plays  5  d;  B  plays  2  s;  D  plays 
9  s. 

If  A  now  leads  a  h,  D  takes  and  brings  in  the  suit;  if 
a  spade,  C  takes  and  gives  D  a  heart,  and  A  B  take  but 
the  single  trump  trick. 

Refusing  to  draw  the  losing  trump  is,  however,  very 
delicate  work,  and  in  the  majority  of  cases  it  is  best  to 
draw  it.  As  a  rule  it  is  best  not  to  draw  the  trump  when 
one  of  the  opponents  has  a  long-established  suit  and 
your  partner  a  suit  that  requires  one  round  to  clear  it 
up. 

Ending  if. — Leading  the  Losing  Trump. 


. 

£ 

0     0 
O     0 

O 

(Hearts  trumps — A  leader.) 


In  the  preceding  example  it  is  shown  that  it  is  best  not 


MODERN   SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


471 


to  draw  the  losing  trump,  and  it  sometimes  happens  that 
it  is  best  to  lead  the  losing  one  in  order  to  place  the 
lead.  A  knows  the  10  h  is  with  C;  B  the  best  clubs;  D 
the  queen  of  spades;  Diamonds  have  not  been  led. 

1.  —  A  leads  5  h;  C  plays  10  h;  B  plays  6  d;  D  plays 

Si 

2.  —  C  leads  qu  d;  B  plays  7  d;  D  plays  8  d;  A  plays 

ace  d. 

3.  —  A  leads  2  c;  and  B  brings  in  the  clubs.    Any  other 
lead  but  the  losing  trump  must  result  in  loss  to  A  B. 


Ending  id.  —  Leading  a  Losing  Card  to  Place  the  Lead. 


(Trumps  out — A  leader.) 


Very  much  depends  upon  the  lead  in  critical  endings, 
and  to  know  how  and  when  to  place  it  is  worth  the  con- 


472 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


sideration  of  all  students  of  the  game.  Here  is  a  posi- 
tion in  which  A  can  throw  away  three  tricks  by  a  single 
bad  play.  B  is  marked  with  the  control  of  d;  D  the 
losing  d;  C  the  winning  hearts;  A  to  lead;  he  has  no  d 
to  give  to  B;  if  he  leads  a  heart  he  loses  every  trick.  He 
must  lead  the  c  and  trust  to  finding  D  with  the  best, 
thus  throwing  the  lead  to  D,  and  he  in  turn  must  give  B 
the  diamonds  and  A  B  take  three  tricks  of  the  four.  Sup- 
pose we  go  back  a  trick  in  this  ending,  giving  to  each 
player  a  club,  and  then  we  have: — 


Ending  If. — Throwing  High  Cards  to  Avoid  the  Lead. 
Fffli 


* 

4* 

* 

* 

* 

B 


D 


oooo\ 

o  o 

oooo1 


o  o 
o  o  o 


oi 


S? 


<? 


*  * 

*  * 


(Trumps  out — A  leader.) 


i. — A  leads  k  c;  C  plays  6;  B  plays  2;  D  plays  kn. 
D  plays  a  beautiful  coup  here;  if  he  throws  the  7,  he 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


473 


loses  two  tricks.  D,  being  able  to  read  the  position  of 
the  diamonds,  should  throw  the  kn  c,  even  if  he  is  un- 
certain as  to  C's  clubs.  D  must  not  get  the  lead — it  is 
fatal.  In  the  event  of  A  remaining  with  the  best  c,  D 
must  still  profit  by  the  play,  for  eventually  A  must  give 
C  the  heart. 

2. — A  leads  4  c,  C  plays  8  c;  B  plays  3  c;  D  plays 
7  c. 

A  must  go  on  with  the  4  c,  hearts  must  come  to  him, 
to  lead  them  loses  a  trick. 

3. — C  makes  the  qu  and  kn  of  hearts,  and  A  the  9  h. 


Ending  18. —  Taking  the  Eleventh  Trick,  Although  Already 
Won  by  Partner. 


~  v 


B 

•*       <* 

•**** 

•*          •* 

>  >  >  > 

—  1 

A-     »^     A 

i!  !i 

C                                D 

^  >% 

£>£>£>£> 

£>          ^ 

*•       * 

.^. 

E>  E>  J>  £> 

^        ^ 

A 

(Hearts  trumps — C  leader.) 


474 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Positions  like  this  are  of  frequent  occurrence.  It  is 
known  that  C  and  B  each  have  two  trumps. 

i. — C  leads  4  s;  B  plays  10  s;  D  plays  5  s;  A  plays 
kn  s. 

If  A  passes  the  trick  simply  because  it  is  already  his 
partner's,  he  loses  a  trick,  as  B  must  then  lead  up  to  C's 
tenace  in  trumps.  In  all  such  cases  you  should  take 
the  eleventh  trick,  no  matter  if  you  cannot  read  the 
tenace  with  partner,  as  you  can  in  no  event  lose,  and  may 
save  a  trick  by  the  play.  The  principle  illustrated  here 
presents  itself  under  different  phases.  Suppose  this 
case: — 

Ending  19  — Trumping  Partner's  Trick  at  Trick  Eleven. 


*l 
* 


D 


cp 

0.0 

O     <> 

<> 

9 

0    0 

<>   <> 

<? 

O     0 

O     0 

(Hearts  trumps — C  leader.) 

i. — C  leads  5  c;  B  plays  k  c;  D  plays  6;  A  trumps. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


475 


The  principle  here  is  the  same  as  in  the  foregoing 
example,  but  the  coup  is  more  brilliant,  as  A  apparently 
throws  away  a  trump;  but  a  moment's  reflection  shows 
that  A  s  trump  is  valueless,  except  for  this  purpose. 

B  should  be  careful — in  positions  like  No.  19 — not  to 
force  this  coup  upon  A,  if  it  can  be  avoided,  for  the 
most  wideawake  partner  will  sometimes  nod.  Let  us  go 
back  one  trick  in  the  last  ending,  and  then  we  have: — 


Ending  20. — Making  It  Easy  for  Partner. 

* 


*       * 
*  v  * 

C 

B 
A 

I) 

s^ssllfcjr 

* 

:.:.':.;. 

0-         £> 

i 

•?•  •!•  * 
^  *  * 

o-  £>  e> 

*         * 
*        * 

<v> 

V 

0    0 
0    0 

o   <> 

0    0 

o   ^ 

I*t 

(Hearts  trumps — C  leader.) 

i.— C  leads  ace  c;  B  plays  k  c;  D  plays  4  c;  A  plays 
8  c. 

2.— C  leads  5  c;  B  plays  2  c;  D  plays  6  c — A  will,  of 
course,  trump,  as  the  trick  is  against  him.  B  here  plays 
the  coup,  and  makes  it  easy  for  A. 


476 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Ending  21. — Making  It  Easy  and  Sure. 
*i 


£>    £> 


B 


D 


(Trumps  out — B  leader.) 

A  is  marked  with  the  two  kings  absolute;  B  is  in,  and 
should  lead  the  6  s,  and  not  the  thirteenth  c,  for  A  may 
throw  the  wrong  king  and  a  trick  be  lost.  It  matters 
not  that  A  should  read  B  with  a  spade;  he  may  not.  It 
may  be  very  evident  to  B  that  A  should  know  that  B  can 
have  no  heart,  but  this  is  no  reason  why  B  should  put  A 
to  the  test;  he  must  take  the  certainty,  for,  no  matter 
how  good  a  player  A  may  be,  he  may  have  missed  the 
inference  that  would  have  directed  him  to  make  the 
proper  play.  Suppose,  in  the  above  situation,  four  or 
five  tricks  were  yet  in  hand,  B  holding  say  three  good 
clubs,  the  last  trump,  and  the  losing  spade;  he  should 
lead  the  spade  at  once — if  he  knows  A  has  the  best 
spade — as  he  can  trump  the  card  next  led  by  A,  and 
makes  his  clubs.  If  he  goes  on  with  the  clubs,  A  may 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


477 


throw  the  k  s.     This  is  all  apparently  too  simple  to  refer 
to,  but  these  little,  simple  points  are  frequently  missed. 


Ending  22. —  Underplay  by  Leader. 


0-          £> 

B 
C                             D 
A 

0-          £> 
0-          E> 

11 

IOOOO 
O    0 

oooo 

1 

*  *! 


(Clubs  trumps — A  leader.) 


Underplay  is  a  strategy  resorted  to  in  the  end-hand,  and 
is  often  very  effective.  A  should  lead  the  5  h,  and  if  C 
passes,  as  he  would  most  likely  do,  unless  he  suspects  the 
manoeuvre,  B  may  win  with  the  kn;  if  he  does  not,  no 
harm  is  done,  as  A  will  trump  the  next  trick,  and  make 
his  ace  and  king.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  he  leads  ace 
and  king,  C  will,  of  course,  hold  up  the  qu,  and  the  5 
must  lose.  A  simply  takes  the  chance  of  B  winning  the 
first  trick  for  him,  with  no  risk  to  run  in  doing  so. 


47^  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Ending  23. —  Underplay  to  Place  the  Lead. 


*  * 

* 

* 

* 

*  * 

* 

* 

**** 


B 


*** 

V 

*** 


(Trumps  out — B  leader.) 


D 


This  suit  has  not  been  led;  A  B  have  six  tricks  in,  and 
need  but  a  single  trick  to  make  the  odd  and  game: — 

i. — B  leads  4;  D  plays  7;  A  plays  8;  C  plays  10. 

A  underplays  here  to  force  the  lead  to  C,  that  he  may 
be  last  player  to  the  next  round,  thus  insuring  him  the 
needed  trick.  D  threw  the  game  away;  he  should  have 
put  on  the  kn,  and  there  was  no  trick  in  the  suit  for  A  B, 
for  if  A  refuses  to  put  up  the  king,  the  kn  wins,  and  C, 
of  course,  finesses  on  the  return  and  the  king  is  gone. 
The  knave  was  the  play,  for  unless  C  had  the  major 
tenace,  the  game  was  lost.  D  should  have  played  the 
kn  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  A  doing  just  what  he 
did  do — underplay. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


479 


Ending  24. — Holding  Up  and  Underplay. 


*  * 


B 


*** 
*** 

*.*.* 
*** 


D 


* 


4. 


(Trumps  out — B  leader.) 


i. — B  leads  qu;  D  plays  k;  A  plays  5;  C  plays  3. 

A  reads  the  probability  of  D  holding  the  fourchette, 
and  if  he  takes  the  king  he  may  lead  up  to  the  kn,  9,  and 
lose  both  tricks. 

2. — D  leads  9;  A  plays  10;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  7. 

A  underplays  here  and  reaps  full  advantage  gained  by 
holding  up  the  first  round. 


480 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Ending  23. — Taking  the  Force  with  a  High  Trump,  that 
You  May  Return  a  Small  One  to  Let  Partner  In. 


(Spades  trumps — C  leader.) 


B  is  marked  with  the  6  s,  and  the  long  hearts;  C  has 
the  clubs;  D  the  diamonds.  Unblocking  plays  a  promi- 
nent part  in  end-play.  Many  a  trick  is  thrown  away  by 
partner  not  getting  out  of  the  way,  in  both  plain  suits 
and  trumps. 

i. — C  leads  ace  c;  B  plays  6  c;  D  plays  2  c;  A  plays 
ks. 

A  trumps  with  the  king  and  leads  the  5,  and  A  B  take 
every  trick.  Had  A  trumped  with  the  5  he  would  have 
blocked  B's  game  and  lost  two  tricks — three  if  he  drew 
the  trumps. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


481 


Ending    26, —  Unblocking   Late  in    Hand  to  Make  Good 
a   Tenace  in  Partner  s  Hand. 


_<ej  *_±1  * 

(Clubs  trumps — B  leader.) 

i. — B  leads  qu  h;  D  plays  9;  A  plays  kn  h;  C  plays 

4h. 

This  unblocking  on  the  part  of  A  is  very  beautiful. 
It  requires  the  nicest  whist  perception  on  the  part  of  A 
and  B  to  read  the  purpose  of  this  brilliant  stroke.  A 
reasons  that  B  must  have  a  losing  d,  and  probably  a 
tenace  in  hearts  over  C;  he  must  throw  the  kn,  that  he 
may  later  on  lead  through  C's  tenace  (if  there),  giving  A 
the  option  of  taking  with  the  smaller  card,  this  he  can- 
not do  if  he  retains  the  kn,  for,  if  C  plays  low,  and  B 
takes  with  ace,  he  is  left  with  losing  heart,  if  he  does  not 
take,  A  is  left  with  the  losing  spade. 

2, — B  leads  6  d;  D  plays  k  d;  A  trumps;  C  plays  qu  d, 


482 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


3  — A  leads  2  h;  C  plays  5  h;  B  plays  6  h;  and  A  B 
have  every  trick.  Had  A  thrown  the  2  of  hearts  on  the 
qu,  a  trick  must  have  been  lost. 


Ending  27. —  Unblocking. 


? 


0     0 

0 
0     0 


o       o 
o       o 

B 
C                               D 
A 

oooo 

0 

oooo 

£>    £>    £> 
£>     8> 
0-    £>    E> 

£>£>  E>  t> 

0 

000 
00 

%°" 

0     O 
0     0 

0     O 
0     0 

(Trumps  out — A  leader.) 


One  round  of  d  has  been  played — k,  qu,  8,  3  falling; 
C  is  marked  with  the  tenace  in  h  over  B;  D  has  the  long 
s;  A  the  diamonds. 

i. — A  leads  ace  d;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  kn;   D  plays  2  d. 

B's  unblocking  is  clever;  A  B  require  every  trick, 
and  if  B  keeps  the  kn  it  must  put  him  in,  holding  the 
losing  hearts;  if  it  turns  out  that  the  10  d  is  with  C,  no 
loss  results,  fgr  B  then  makes  his  9  h,  The  point  is  that 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


A  must  hold  the  10  d,  or  the  odd  is  gone,  and  B  plays  as 
though  he  knew  A  held  the  10. 


Ending  28. —  Unblocking  Discard. 


p    <? 

r** 

|<v>       <? 

j<?    <? 


B 
C           D 
A 

*  *  * 
* 

•>•»•> 

^&: 

<3  <3  <3 
<3  <3 
<3  <3  <3 

o  o  o 

O  O  0 

<3     <3 
<3._ 
<3     <3 

*    * 
* 
4-    * 

(Clubs  trumps — A  leader.) 


A's  suit  must  be  h,  and  he  is  marked  with  five. 

i. — A  leads  9  c;  C  plays  7;  B  plays  9  h;  D  plays  5  c. 

If  B  discards  the  2  h,  he  must  lose  a  spade  trick  to  C. 
B  might  discard  the  10  s,  but  the  point  illustrated  is,  that 
you  must  sometimes  prepare  to  get  out  of  the  way  of 
partner's  assumed  suit  by  an  unblocking  discard, 


484 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Ending  29. — Giving  Partner  Certain  Cards,  that  he 
must  Hold — to  Win. 


* 

*  4 
*  4 

* 
4  4 

<V 

9?  9 
<?  9 

9  <? 
9?  <? 
9  <? 

0 

B 

o  o  <> 
o 
oo^ 

c 

D 

*  * 
*  * 

<3  <3  < 
<B 
<3  <3  < 

j 

\ 

OOOOI 

o  <> 

O  O  O  Oi 


(Clubs  trumps — A  leader.) 


A  is  in  and  A  B  require  every  trick;  the  best  spades 
and  hearts  are  against,  diamonds  have  not  been  led. 

i. — A  leads  9  c;  C  plays  7;  D  plays  ace  d;  C  plays 
5  c. 

B's  discard  of  the  ace  of  d  is  the  only  play;  if  he 
throws  a  s  or  h  he  loses  four  tricks.  B  reasons  that  A 
must  hgld  the  diamonds  or  the  game  is  hopelessly  lost; 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


485 


if  he  retains  the  ace  he  blocks  A's  play  of  the  suit,  and 
besides  must  lead  to  sure  defeat. 


Ending  30. —  Throwing  the  Lead. 


ooool 
o  o 
looooj 

V 

0    0 
0*0 

%° 

o   o 

0     0 

(Clubs  trumps— A.  leader.) 


The  hands  can  be  counted. 

i.— A  leads  10  c;  C  plays  9  c;  B  plays  7  d;  D  plays 

2d. 


486  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

This  is  beautiful  work;  A  makes  the  best  possible  play, 
but  C  is  equal  to  it,  and  very  neatly  counters  on  A  by 
refusing  to  take.  A  hoped  that  C  would  seize  the  instant 
trick,  if  he  had  he  would  have  lost  a  trick. 

2. — A  leads  6  s;  C  plays  3  d;  B  plays  8  d;  D  plays  7  h. 

C  very  cleverly  refuses  to  take  the  force;  if  he  does 
he  vitiates  the  merit  of  the  former  play  and  loses  two 
tricks. 

3. — A  leads  3  s;  C  plays  4  d;  B  plays  10  d;  D  plays  8  h. 

C  again  passes — to  trump  would  still  lose  two  tricks. 

4. — A  leads  a  heart  which  C  again  passes,  D  takes  and 
makes  his  ace  of  h  and  C  the  last  trump,  and  A  B  have 
but  three  of  the  six  tricks.  This  ending  offers  a  remark- 
able illustration  of  the  possibilities  of  the  game.  By  the 
best  possible  play  all  around  the  score  in  these  six  tricks 
is  A  B  3;  C  D  3.  Now,  suppose  A  had  led  a  heart  and  then 
refused  to  trump  at  trick  four — knowing  he  would  be  over- 
trumped— the  score  would  then  be  A  B  o;  C  D  6.  If  he 
trumps  the  heart  at  fourth  trick,  the  score  is  then  A  B  i; 
C  D  5.  Again:  If  A  leads  the  s,  which,  by  the  way,  com- 
pels C  to  play  a  very  pretty  coup:— 

i. — A  leads  6  s;  C  plays  kn  c  (!);  B  plays  7  d;  D 
plays  2  d. 

2. — C  leads  the  losing  trump,  and — A  62;  C  D  4. 

Suppose,  however,  that  C  misses  the  coup: — 

i. — A  leads  6  s;  C  plays  9  c;  B  plays  7  d;  D  plays  2  d. 

2. — C  plays  kn  c;  B  plays  8  d;  D  plays  8  h;  A  plays 
10  c. 

3. — C  must  now  lead  a  d,  and — A  64;  C  D  2. 

Once  more: — 

i. — A  leads  6  s;  and  C,  giving  B  the  10  c,  trumps  with 
the  kn  c,  and  then  leads  a  d  in  the  hope  of  making  the 
9  c,  then  A  B  5;  C  D  i;  and  we  have  all  the  possible 
scores  from  A  B  o;  C  D  6;  to  A  B  5;  C  D  i. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


487 


Ending  31. —  Taking  the  Lead  from  Partner. 


D 


**** 
* 


*  * 

*  * 

*  * 


(Hearts  trumps — C  leader.) 


B  is  marked  with  kn  h,  k  s  and  two  diamonds;  D  with 
the  best  d  and  no  trump. 

i. — C  leads  6  s;  B  plays  k  s;  D  plays  9  c;  A  trumps. 

A  trumps  his  partner's  trick  that  he  may  lead  the  win- 
ning clubs.  C  led  the  losing  spade  to  place  the  lead  with 
B,  knowing  he  had  the  k,  but  he  should  have  led  the 
losing  trump  and  thus  prevented  A  from  making  the 
clever  little  stroke  of  trumping  the  trick  already  won  by 


4S8 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


partner.     It  is  often  best  to  lead  the  losing  trump,  and 
especially  so  when  it  draws  two  for  one. 


Ending  32  —  Clearing  up  Partner's  Suit. 


* 


*  *  * 

13 

oooo 

0 

oooo 

*  4-  * 

*      *      4"; 

0           01 
0 

o       o! 

*      *      4 

0          0 

o       o 

O   O    O 

A 

+ 

<>     0 

o   o 

0     O 

*  * 
*   * 

*   * 
* 
*  * 

(Trumps  out— A  leader.) 


Here  is  a  position  of  frequent  occurrence,  both  in  the 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  489 

endings  and  the  middle  hand.  It  is  a  fi-ne  point,  and  is 
very  often  missed  by  even  good  players.  It  is  reduced 
here  to  a  simple  ending,  but,  as  before  stated,  the  point 
illustrated  often  turns  up  early  in  the  play  of  the  hand. 
In  the  above  position  B  opened  the  hand  with  the  10  c, 
thus  showing  the  k,  kn  and  others.  The  10  lost  to  the  qu, 
leaving  the  ace  yet  in.  A,  to  make  the  suit,  eventually 
led  trumps,  and  succeeded  in  exhausting  them.  A  is  in 
the  lead  at  this  point.  You  should,  in  all  such  situations 
as  A  is  in  here,  lead  to  dear  up  the  suit  for  partner.  If 
you  open  a  fresh  suit,  or  lead  anything  else,  you  may  take 
from  partner  his  only  card  of  re-entry,  and  the  suit  you 
have  played  for  may  not  make.  It  matters  not  whether 
you  know  anything  about  your  partner's  hand  in  the 
other  suit  or  suits,  you  must  not  take  the  chance  of  forc- 
ing his  only  re-entry  card  before  you  clear  up  his  suit. 

i. — A  leads  9  c;  C  plays  3;  B  plays  7;  D  plays  ace. 

D  must  now  lead  a  d,  and  B  makes  the  clubs.  If  on 
the  other  hand — 

i. — A  leads  8  d;  C  plays  3  d;  B  plays  qu  d;  D  plays 
4d. 

B  must  now  lead  a  club,  and  will  not  take  another 
trick.  The  point,  as  illustrated  here,  is  very  simple,  yet 
it  is  often  missed.  You  note  that  if  you  are  playing  in 
the  position  of  either  C  or  D,  you  adopt  the  very  line  of 
play  A  is  to  avoid.  The  point  to  be  remembered  is — be 
careful  to  establish  your  partner's  suit,  by  leading  it, 
before  you  lead  a  suit  that  may  force  the  play  of  his  only 
card  of  re-entry.  This  suggests  another  point:  suppose 
D,  in  the  foregoing  example,  has  another  club,  and  then 
go  back  a  trick,  and  another  phase  is  illustrated: — 


4QO 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Ending  33. — Keeping  Command  of  Opponents'  Suit. 


0    0 
0% 


B 


*** 
*   * 


io  o 


*  * 


(Trumps  out — A  leader.) 


i. — A  leads  9  c;  C  plays  6  c;  B  plays  7  c;  D  plays  5  c. 

D  very  properly  refuses  to  play  the  ace — to  clear  up 
B's  suit,  and  A  is  now  forced  to  go  on  with  a  d,  and  B's 
clubs  cannot  make.  Had  D  parted  with  command  he 
would  have  lost  a  trick.  Here  is  another  phase  involving 
the  same  principle: — 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  491 

Ending 34. — Forcing  the  Adversary  to  Clear  Up  Your  Suit. 


*  * 


I*      * 

I         >J» 

000011* 

O       I _ 

oooo 


*  * 


(Trumps  out — D  leader.) 


You  are  sometimes  placed  in  the  position  of  B  in  the 
above  ending,  and  you  must  refuse  to  part  with  your 
only  re-entry  card. 

i. — D  leads  9  d;  C  plays  2;  B  plays  8. 

B  can  read  D's  hand,  and  knowing  that  he  must  now 
lead  a  club — thus  forcing  him  to  clear  up  the  suit — he, 
of  course,  refuses  to  part  with  the  qu  d.  If  he  puts  up 
the  qu  he  loses  every  other  trick.  C  should  have  covered 
D's  9  d  with  the  10,  thus  preventing  B  from  playing  the 
coup.  In  whist,  brilliancy  on  the  part  of  one  player  is 
often  rendered  possible  only  through  weak  play  on  the 
part  of  the  other.  As:— 

i. — D  plays  9  d;  C  plays  10  d,  and  now,  whether  B 
takes  or  passes,  he  can  make  but  one  trick  of  the  five. 


492 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Ending  JJT. — Leading  Up  to  a  Double  Ten  ace  in  Trumps, 


(Spades  trumps — A  leader.) 

Here  is  a  beautiful  ending  (see  illustrated  hand  No.  1 1), 
in  which  the  leader  (A)  leads  up  to  a  double  tenace  in 
trumps,  and  purposely  loses  three  tricks  in  trumps  that 
he  may  make  good  four  tricks  in  his  partner's  hand.  To 
lead  up  to  a  double  tenace  proclaimed  against  you  would, 
under  most  circumstances,  be  the  worst  possible  play; 
but  the  resources  of  whist  are  so  varied,  that  some  times 
the  best  thing  to  do  is  to  force  the  opponent  to  take  the 
lead,  by  leading  up  to  his  tenace  in  such  a  manner  that 
he  cannot  escape  the  lead  at  the  critical  point  in  the 
play.  A  can  count  the  hands  in  the  above  ending,  and 
needs  four  tricks  to  make  the  game. 

i. — A  leads  7  s;  C  plays  2  s;  B  plays  3  h;  D  plays  8  s. 

If  A  leads  a  c,  d  or  the  4  of  spades,  he  loses  the  game. 
The  club  or  diamond  loses  two  tricks,  the  4  s  three 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


493 


tricks;  for,  if  A  leads  the  4  s,  D  takes  with  8,  and  plays 
qu,  then  puts  A  in  the  lead  again  with  the  6  s,  and  A  B 
do  not  take  another  trick.  Even  the  7  s  is  led  in  prefer- 
ence to  the  9  s,  as  it  offers  D  a  triple  opportunity  to 
blunder,  which  the  9  s  does  not;  for,  if  D  takes  with  the 
qu,  and  leads  the  6  or  the  8,  or  if  he  takes  with  the  8 
and  leads  the  6 — with  the  idea  of,  in  this  way,  avoiding 
the  lead — he  loses,  in  each  case,  a  trick. 

2. — D  leads  qu  s;  A  plays  9  s;  C  plays  6  h;  B  plays 
9c. 

D  must  lead  the  qu  s;  any  other  lead  loses  a  trick.  A 
must  throw  the  9  s  or  lose  the  game.  D  is  powerless,  he 
must  lose  the  four  tricks  in  hearts  to  B.  A's  play  in  this 
ending  is  very  beautiful  and  instructive. 

Ending  j<5. — Forcing  the  Opponent  to  Play  a  Coup  or  Lose 
the  Game. 


** 

*** 

*** 


B 

*  *  * 

o  O  < 

> 

1*  *  *l 

ft^^^l 

*    *  1 

*      * 

<o  o  < 

> 

I*  *  *• 

feg^S^i 

^ffl^^^S»ci 

4-         4 

o<>o< 

. 

i*  *  * 

^*5^||p: 

o 

-!• 

*  4-  * 
4-  *  * 

ooo< 

l»  »  »! 

>  >    >    > 
•*        > 
±_^_±jt 

A 

«! 

^ 
4 
^ 

i 

:- 

» 

4 

*:* 

1* 

0^0 
<><%<> 

o   o 

l^ 

o 

<> 

0 

(Diamonds  trumps — A  leader.) 


494  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

A  knows  that  C  has  the  minor  tenace  in  trumps  and 
three  losing  clubs;  B  is  marked  with  the  best  clubs;  D 
the  best  spades.  Each  has  four  tricks  in,  and  the  score 
is:  A  B,  5;  C  D,  6.  A  realizes  that  the  game  is  lost,  but, 
that  he  can  force  C  to  play  a  coup  to  gain  it;  he,  there- 
fore, takes  the  only  chance,  and  trusts  to  C  missing  the 
coup. 

i.1 — A  leads  10  d;  C  plays  6  d;  B  plays  3  s;  D  plays 
7  c. 

Any  other  card  led  by  A  gives  C  the  game  by  simple 
play. 

2. — A  leads  7  d;  C  plays  9  d;  B  plays  5  s;  D  plays 
8c. 

C  must  now  lead  a  club,  and  A  B  have  two  by  card 
and  the  game.  C  missed  a  pretty  coup — and  with  it  the 
game,  as: — 

i. — A  leads   10  d;  C  plays  9  d;  B  plays  3  s;  D  plays 

7  c. 

2. — A  leads   7  d;  C  plays  6  d;  B  plays  5  s;  D  plays 

8  c. 

A  must  now  lead  a  spade,  and  C  D  have  the  odd  card 
and  game.  The  coup  that  C  missed  is  very  neat,  and 
the  student  is  cautioned  to  be  on  the  alert  for  such  clever 
plays. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Ending  37. —  The  Deschapelles  Coup. 


495 


*  *  * 

*  *  * 


•I- 


B 

O   O   <> 

C                             D 

oooo 

o 

oooo 

A 

ooool 
o  o  . 

OOOO' 


o  o  o 

o   o 

o  o  o 


(Trumps  out — A  leader.) 

This  bright  stroke,  the  invention  of  the  great  French- 
man, is  very  pretty.  This  coup  consists  in  leading  the 
king,  or  other  high  card  not  the  best  in  the  play,  at  the 
head  of  others,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  smaller 
card  in  partner's  hand  good  as  a  card  of  re-entry.  If  a 
small  card  is  led,  in  such  situations,  it  may  force  the 
play  of  partner's  only  card  of  re-entry,  which  may  lose 
to  a  higher  card  fourth  hand — to  the  loss  of  several 
tricks.  In  the  above  position  the  best  clubs  (k,  kn)  are 
marked  with  B;  A  is  in,  he  has  no  club  to  give  B,  and 
his  object  is  to  get  B  in  that  the  clubs  may  make.  Dia- 
monds have  not  been  led. 

i. — A  leads  k  d;  C  plays  3  d;  B  plays  6  d;  D  plays 
ace  d. 

B's  qu  d  is  now  good.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  state 
that  if  you  suspect  the  coup,  you  will  hold  up  the  winning 


496 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


card  and  not  part  with  control  the  first  or  second  round 
of  the  suit.  In  this  example  D  should  have  refused  to 
part  with  the  ace  until  the  second  round,  in  which  event 
B  could  not  have  brought  in  his  clubs. 

Ending  38. — Grand  Coup. 
~9~ 


V     <? 


S? 


**** 
* 


0  o 

1  o 

o       o 


B 


D 


*  *  * 


A      A 


(Spades  trumps — C  leader.) 

A  has  a  trump  too  many.  The  grand  coup  consists  in 
getting  rid  of  it.  This  appears  paradoxical,  but  it  is 
true  that  you  sometimes  find  yourself  with  a  superfluous 
trump,  on  the  same  principle  that  you  often  have  a  high 
card  that  you  must  throw  away  in  order  to  avoid  taking 
the  lead. 

i. — C  leads  kn  c  ;  B  trumps  ;  D  plays  3  c ;  A  under- 
trumps. 

A  throws  the  4  s,  and  not  the  small  heart;  if  he  does 
not,  and  D  properly  refuses  to  trump  the  kn  d  next  led 
by  B — he  loses  a  trick,  as  : — 

i. — C  leads  kn  c;  B  trumps;  D  plays  3  c;  A  plays  5  h. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


497 


2. — B  leads  kn  d;  D  plays  7  c;  A  must  trump — and 
D's  9  s  must  make. 

The  opportunity  to  play  this  splendid  coup  is  often 
missed  and  as  often  rendered  impossible  by  not  forsee- 
ing  it  in  time  to  prepare  for  it.  It  is  particularly  beauti- 
ful when  anticipated  several  tricks  in  advance  and  the 
superfluous  strength  gotten  rid  of  at  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity, for,  if  you  miss  a  chance  to  part  with  the  unnec- 
essary trump — you  may  find  no  other.  You  must  not 
forget  that  if  you  hold  any  high  card  with  which  you 
will  be  forced  to  take  the  lead,  you  will  be  in  the  same 
predicament  as  though  you  had  not  successfully  thrown 
the  superfluous  trump.  Your  object  is  to  avoid  the  lead, 
and  any  card  that  will  compel  you  to  take  the  lead,  will,  of 
course,  obstruct  your  purpose.  Suppose  the/ollowing  :— 

Ending  jp. — Grand  Coup  and  Throwing  High  Card 
Combined. 

~~v 
9 
'^ 


(Spade  trumps — C  leader.) 


498 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


i. — C  leads  kn  c;  B  trumps;  D  plays  3;  A  throws  his 
superfluous  trump. 

2. — B  leads  qu  h;  D  plays  2  h;  A  plays  kn  h;  C  plays 
9c. 

A  must  throw  the  kn  h  or  lose  a  trick,  for,  if  he  throws 
the  5  h,  he  must  take  the  heart  next  led  by  B,  and  then 
lead  up  to  D's  tenace  in  trumps.  A  should  throw  the  kn 
h  to  B's  qu  even  if  he  does  not  know  that  B  has  the  next 
best  heart,  for,  if  he  finds  the  best  heart  with  either  D  or 
C  no  harm  is  done,  as  in  this  event  no  play  will  escape 
the  loss  of  one  trick. 

Ending  40. —  Taking  Partner  s  Trick  in  Order  to  Force 
the  Last  Trump  from  Adversary. 


(Clubs  trumps — C  leader.) 

Endings  similar  to  the  above  may  occur.    B  is  marked 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  499 

with    the   k  of  clubs  (king  being  turned),  also   the   best 
spades;  A  the  best  hearts;  C  the  losing  hearts. 

i. — C  leads  9  c;  B  plays  4  c;  D  plays  6  c;  A  plays  5  d. 

D's  careless  play  of  the  the  6  c  loses  four  tricks,  for  he 
can  now  make  only  the  ace  of  c.  If,  on  the  other  hand, 
he  plays  the  ace  he  must  make  every  trick  but  one — 

i. — C  leads  9  c  ;  B  plays  4  c  ;  B  plays  ace  c  ;  A  plays 

s  a- 

2. — D  leads  kn  d;  A  plays  6  d;  C  plays  2  h;  B  plays  7  d. 

D  keeps  up  the  diamonds,  and  B  must  take  the  force 
with  his  last  trump;  D  takes  the  spade  next  led  by  B 
and  makes  the  diamonds.  Had  D  known  that  C  had 
winning  cards  to  lead,  he  should  play  the  6  c  as  he  did 
do,  but  knowing  that  C  must  lead  a  losing  card  he  should 
have  taken  the  lead  with  the  idea  of  forcing  the  last 
trump  from  B.  In  situations  like  this  you  should  take 
the  lead  unless  you  are  sure  that  partner  has  winning 
cards  to  lead,  for  the  risk  is  too  great  to  run.  D,  in  the 
above  example,  by  putting  on  the  ace,  made  sure  of  every 
trick  but  one,  and  he  should  not  have  taken  the  chance 
of  partner  having  a  diamond  to  give  him — unless  he  had 
to  catch  the  king  to  save  the  game.  The  student  will 
understand  that  when  he  is  left  with  an  established  suit 
and  one  trump,  and  an  opponent  also  an  established  suit 
and  one  trump,  that  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that 
he  should  have  the  lead  at  this  critical  point;  if  he  has 
not  the  lead  he  will  not  make  his  suit.  In  such  situa- 
tions the  one  who  is  first  forced  must  lose. 


5oo 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Ending   41.  —  Refusing    to   Part    with    the    Thirteenth 
Trump  the  First  Round  of  Your  Opponents'  Suit. 


D-     &•    & 

O 

o  o 

£> 

E> 
£> 

lo 

o  o 
o  o 

£> 
E 

£>    £> 
> 
D-    S> 

(Spades  trumps — A  leader.) 

D  has  the  thirteenth  trump;  A  the  hearts  established 
and  marked  in  his  hand.  This  is  a  situation  of  frequent 
occurrence.  D  in  this  position  should  not  part  with  his 
last  trump  the  first  round  of  A's  suit. 

i. — A  leads  kn  h;  C  plays  3  h;  B  plays  5  h;  D  plays 
10  d. 

If  D  trumps  this  trick  he  loses  two  tricks,  for  B  will 
get  in  with  his  ace  of  d,  and  will  have  a  heart  to  give 
back  to  A. 

2. — A  leads  k  h;  C  plays  4  h;  B  plays  6  h;  D  trumps. 

D  can  now  trump  and  lead  a  d,  which  B  takes  and 
then  must  lead  a  d,  and  D's  diamonds  make.  Go  back 
a  trick  in  this  ending  in  order  to  illustrate  the  danger  in 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


501 


discarding  too  close  in  partner's  great  suit;  one,  or  even 
two  cards  may  not  be  enough  if  the  thirteenth  trump  is 
left  with  the  opponent— as  the  following  ending  demon- 
strates. 

Ending  42.— Keep  More  than  One  Card  of  Your  Part- 
ners Great  Suit— if  the  Thirteenth  Trump  is 
with  the  Opponents. 


O 

oooo 
o 
oooo 

0°0 

o   o 
o 
o   o 

<s?      9 

9?      9? 
9 

h   4<    •* 

s     <     « 

c 

B 

D 

•>            > 

»     » 

O 

o  o 

i     »|* 

£>           ?>jlo_ 

o  o 
o  o 

**  * 

f^    &•    &• 

OOOOI 

O    O   i 

OOOOi 


(Spades  trump — A  leader.) 

i.— A  leads  8  s;  C  plays  7  s;  B  plays  5  h;  D  piays  3  s. 

B  loses  a  trick  here  by  discarding  the  h,  for  D  will 
now  trump  the  heart  next  led  by  A,  and  A  B  will  make 
only  one  trick  in  the  suit.  The  student  will  readily  see 
that  if  at  trick  7  B  discarded  a  h,  he  lost  still  another 
trick,  for  if  B  has  three,  D  must  hold  up  his  thirteenth 


502 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


trump  until  the  third  round  of  the  suit,  or  A  makes  his 
hearts.  All  that  B  requires  is  his  single  re-entry  card — 
the  ace  of  diamonds — and  he  should  discard  the  dia- 
monds down  to  the  ace  and  keep  his  hearts,  so  that  A 
may  make  his  suit  either  before  or  after  D  has  used  his 
last  trump. 

Ending  43. — Leading  the  Lowest  of  a  Two-Card  Suit 
that  Partner  may  not  be  Tempted  to  Finesse. 


O     0 

0     0 

0 

o 

0     0 

0     O 

0    0 

0     0 

0          O 

o 
o       o 


o  o  o 

0    0 

o  <>  o 


B 


** 

*** 
*** 


474 

*  * 


(Clubs  trump — A  leader.) 


A  has  the  last  trump,  the  last  spade,  and  the  diamond 
suit  has  not  been  led. 

i. — A   leads  3  d;  C  plays  4;  B  plays  ace;  D  plays  2. 

A  here  leads  the  lowest  of  two  cards  that  B  may  put 
up  his  best  card,  had  he  led  the  qu  it  might  have  tempt- 
ed B  to  finesse  and  a  trick  be  lost. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


5°3 


2. — B  now  leads  the  winning  heart,  and  A  B  score  all 
four  tricks. 

Ending  44. — Finesse. 


o   o  o   o 

<\0  A           0 

o     X    X   o   o 
^o^     o 

O     0    O     0 

J 

£>          0 

B 
C 
A 

D 

£>£>£> 

O    O    O 
O    O    0 

'O    O    0 

10  o  o 

oooo 

o 
oooo 


o  o  o 


0     O 

*  * 

*&* 

*** 

O     0 

*  * 

(Clubs  trumps — A  leader.) 


Finesse  is  often  obligatory  in  the  ending  of  a  hand. 
In  the  above  example,  A  is  marked  with  the  last  trump; 
C  with  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  heart,  diamonds  have 
not  been  led. 

i. — A  leads  kn  d;  C  plays  6  d;  B  plays  2  d;  D  plays  qu. 

B  must  finesse  the  kn  led  by  partner,  although  he 
knows,  absolutely,  that  it  must  fall  to  either  k  or  qu  in 
D's  hand.  If  B  puts  up  the  ace,  he  cannot  take  another 
trick,  his  passing  preserves  the  perfect  tenace,  and  he 
knows  that  D  must  return  the  suit.  It  is  often  evident 


5°4 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


that  a  finesse  must  be  gained  to  make  the  odd  or  save 
the  game,  and  if  your  finesse  loses  in  such  situations,  no 
play  would  win;  if  the  finesse  wins,  you  gain  a  trick  that 
no  other  play  would  make.  A  finesse  in  situations  of 
this  character  is  obligatory. 

Ending  45. — Avoid  Making    Your  Adversaries'  Minor 
Tenace  a  Major  Tenace. 


*  * 

*  * 

*  * 

*  * 

*  * 

B 


D 


(Trumps  out — A  leader.) 


Players  in  A's  position  often  lead  cheir  best  card,  thus 
at  once  presenting  C  with  a  trick  by  making  their  own 
major  tenace  a  minor  one.  C,  in  this  instance,  opened 
this  suit  with  the  7,  to  which  the  2,  9,  and  10  fell,  in  the 
order  named,  and  A  could,  of  course,  read  C  with  the 
k,  kn,  8. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


505 


i. — A  leads  5;  C  plays  8;  B  plays  4;  D  plays  3. 

If  A  leads  either  the  ace  or  queen  he  must  lose  a 
trick.  In  such  cases,  when  you  hold  a  major  tenace  and 
a  small  card  against  a  minor  tenace  and  one  small,  lead 
the  small  card. 


Ending  46. — Discarding  a   Trump. 


*  * 


«       4       < 


" 


0"  0" 

o 

0     0 


B 


D 


**  + 

*** 

*** 
*** 


V 

*** 


* 


(Hearts  trumps — A  leader.) 

You  may  sometimes  be  placed  in  the  position  of  D  in 
the  above  example. 

i. — A  leads  k  c;  C  plays  2;  B  trumps;  D  discards  a 
trump. 

D  being  put  to  the  discard,  throws  a  losing  trump,  for 
B  is  marked  with  a  losing  spade  or  diamond — D  is 
uncertain  which;  he  knows  that  B  will  at  once  draw  his 
trump  in  any  event,  and  if  he  discards  at  random,  he 


506  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

may  throw  the  wrong  card,  and  lose  a  trick.  The  fall  to 
the  next  trick  may  enable  D  to  read  B's  remaining  card. 

2. — B  leads  9  h;  D  plays  3  b;  A  plays  4c;  C  plays  7  s. 

C  plays  the  twelfth  spade  here,  and  D  now  knows  that 
B  must  hold  the  twelfth  diamond,  and  to  B's  next  lead 
of  a  trump  D  throws  the  kn  s,  and  the  9  d  makes. 

Ending  ^7. — A  Typical  Case  of  Throwing  High  Cards  to 
Avoid  the  Lead. 


*'* 

*** 
*** 


* 

*** 
*** 

*      * 


*  * 


*  * 


C 


D 


(Hearts  trumps — D  leader.) 

Here  is  an  illustration  of  an  opportunity  that  fre- 
quently occurs  for  a  coup.  D  is  marked  with  the  6,  4 
of  trumps;  clubs  have  not  been  led. 

i. — D  leads  ace  c;  A  plays  qu  c;  C  plays  4  c;  B 
plays  6  c. 

A  anticipates  in  time  the  necessity  of  avoiding  the  lead, 
and  throws  the  qu  c.  If  he  throws  the  2  c  he  must,  of 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


5°7 


course,  lose  a  trick.  The  student  will  keep  in  view  the 
fact  that  with  a  tenace  in  trumps  to  your  right,  a  trick 
must  be  lost;  if  you  are  in  the  lead"  at  trick  twelve.  A 
cannot  possibly  lose  by  throwing  the  qu  c  here,  for,  if  it 
turns  out  that  C  has  the  kn  c,  the  trick  that  A  loses  in 
clubs  is  at  once  recovered  in  the  trump  suit.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  B  has  the  best  club,  a  clear  trick  is  gained. 
This  coup  is  a  bright  play  for  a  probable  gain,  without 
the  contingent  of  loss.. 

2. — D  leads  5  c;  A  plays  k  c;  C  plays  7  c;  B  plays  9  c. 

3. — A  leads  2  c;  C  plays  8  c;  B  plays  10  c;  D  plays  3  c. 

A  must  now  make  his  tenace  in  trumps  as  the  lead 
comes  through  D  up  to  A. 

Ending  48. — Forcing  the  Opponent. 


B 


(Clubs  trumps — A  leader.) 


I) 


0.0 

0°0 
0<>0 
00 


*  *  •!•  * 

*      * 

**** 


A  trick  or  more  is  often  lost  in  this  simple  ending.  A 
is  left  with  kn,  7  of  trumps  and  the  best  diamonds,  and 
must  force  with  the  d  or  lose  a  trick,  and  D  in  turn  must 
force  with  the  heart  or  lose  a  trick. 


508 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Ending  49. — Playing  as  though  a  Suit  could  go  but  One 
Round. 


O  o  <> 


o        o 

o 
o       o 


lo  o  o 

o  o 

o  o  o 


O     0 
0     0 


O    O 
0     O 

o   o 


0     0 


O     0 


B 
D 
A 

ooool 
o  o 
oooo 

oooo 
o 
oooo 

o      o 

•*       * 

>        * 

3 

*** 
** 


(Clubs  trumps — A  leader.) 

A  is  marked  with  the  best  spade  and  the  thirteenth 
trump.  Diamonds  have  not  been  led.  A  is  in  the  lead 
and  endeavors  to  gain  a  trick  by  underplay. 

i. — A  leads  qu  d;  C  here  should  put  up  his  king,  for 
C  can  read  that  A  may  be  underplaying — hoping  to  push 
the  qu  successfully  through  the  king — if  in  second  hand. 
It  is  A's  only  chance  to  gain  a  trick;  if  the  king  is  with 
D  it  must  make,  if  with  B  no  play  can  lose.  C  should 
reason  that  he  cannot  make  the  king  if  the  ace  is  with  B, 
for,  if  C  does  not  cover  B  finesses  the  queen  and  the 
king  loses  the  second  round.  Playing  second  hand  you 
should  be  on  the  alert  for  this  bit  of  strategy  on  the  part 
of  the  leader. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


5°9 


Ending  50. — Showing  Hand  by  Discard,  and  Unblocking* 


(Spades  trumps — D  leader.) 


i. — D  leads  k  h;  A  plays  2  h;  C  plays  kn  h;  B  plays 
10  h. 

The  hands  can  be  counted;  D  is  marked  with  the  6  s 
and  four  hearts;  C  has  two  cards  each  of  diamonds  and 
clubs,  and  B  must  have  the  sequence  of  6  to  10  in  hearts 
and  he  throws  the  10  h  to  warn  A  to  get  out  of  the  way. 

2. — D  leads  ace  h;  A  plays  qu  h;  C  plays  10  d;  B 
plays  6  h. 

A  throws  the  qu  h  unblocking  in  B's  suit  to  avoid 
taking  the  lead,  for  if  A  gets  the  lead  he  must  lose  the  9 
dtoC. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

3.— D  leads  3  h;  A  plays  5  h;  C  plays  10  c;   B  plays 
B  now  leads  the  9  h  and  A  gets  the  needed  discard. 

Ending  51. — Giving  Partner  a  Chance  to  Overtnimp. 


*    * 


*    * 


B 


0    0 

0     0 


O     0 

0    0 

o 

0    0 

0 

0     0 

0     <0> 

o 

(Clubs  trumps — C  leader.) 


C  can  read  the  hands.  A  must  have  all  d;  D  must 
have  one  d  ;  and  strength  in  clubs  over  B.  C's  spades 
and  diamonds  are  all  master  cards;  C  is  in  the  lead  and 
must  lead  the  spade  or  B  will  make  a  trick  in  trumps.  If 
C  leads  the  ace  of  d,  B  trumps,  and  D  must  follow  suit 
and  a  trick  is  thrown  away. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


511 


Ending  52. — Preventing   the    Opponents    from    Making 
their  Trumps  Separately. 


0     0 

00 

o^o 

0°0 

0\ 

0     0 

O    0 

V 


C 

B 
A 

D 

0         0 
0          0 

•f- 

o       o 
o 
o       o 

HI 

|*V« 

o  o  o 
o 
o  o  o 

* 
*   * 

*  * 

*  * 

o  o 

0    0 
0    0 

(Spades  trumps — A  leader.) 


C  led  trumps  to  which  D  echoed,  and  consequently  is 
marked  with  the  7  s,  C  the  8.  A  knows  that  D  has  the 
best  d,  possibly  two  winning  d. 

i. — A  leads  6  d;  C  plays  4;   B  plays  8  d;   D  plays  k  d. 

C  and  D  cannot  now  make  their  trumps  separately 
and  B  must  make  the  9  d.  If  A  had  led  his  long  clubs 
he  must  have  lost  a  trick.  In  all  such  positions  you 
should  avoid  leading  forcing  cards,  and,  on  the  other 
hand,  if  you  and  partner  each  has  a  trump — the  oppo- 


512 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


nents  out — you  should  endeavor  to  so  play  that  you  may 
not  keep  the  same  number  of  cards  in  the  same  suit.  In 
the  event  of  D  in  the  above  ending  holding  two  winning 
diamonds  A  could  not  lose  by  the  play,  for  in  this  event 
no  play  could  save  a  trick.  Go  back  a  trick  in  the  above 
ending  and  then — 


Ending  53. — Making   Your  Trumps  Separately. 


oooo 
o 
oooo 

V 

0    0 

V 

c?     c? 

*                  * 
*                  * 

E 

J 

o       o 
o       o 

0           O 

o 

0           O 

<    < 

A 

L 

pilNitt 

ire 

! 

O     0 
O    0 
O    0 

o 
o 

+v+ 

**** 

(Spades  trumps — D  leader.) 


The  hands  can  be  read  as  before.  A  in  this  instance 
being  marked  with  the  kn  s. 

i  —  P  leads  ace  h;  A  plays  kn  s;  C  plays  4d;  B  plays 
2  h, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


5T3 


C,  here,  plays  properly  in  discarding  the  diamond,  if 
he  throws  the  losing  club  he  presents  A  with  the  oppor- 
tunity of  saving  a  trick  as  in  Ending  No.  52.  A  is  now 
helpless  as  C  and  D's  trumps  must  make  separately. 

Ending  54. — Refusing  to  Lead  a    Thirteenth. 


*  4-  * 

*    4-   | 

.   *   4-1 


*  * 

*  * 
4,    4. 


B 


D 


4,  •  4. 
*,4» 


(Hearts  trumps — A  leader.) 


One  round  of  clubs  has  been  played — k,  qu,  4,  2  fall- 
ing— B  is  marked  with  the  10  h,  D  the  4  h. 

i. — A  leads  kn  c  ;  C  plays  3  c  ;  B  plays  5  c  ;  D  plays 
a  c. 

A  must  now  make  the  10  c  and  B  the  trump.  If  A 
had  led  the  thirteenth  d,  D  must  make  two  tricks.  In 
such  situations  A  should  lead  the  suit  even  if  the  proba- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


bilities  are   that  he   will  lose   both  tricks  in  it,  for  the 
thirteenth  must  let  the  losing  trump  make. 

Ending  55. —  Taking  the  Only  Chance. 


**** 

* 
**** 


**** 
*    * 
**** 


B 


D 


*  *  * 
*•    *• 

*  *  * 


* 


(Trumps  out. — A  leader.) 


This  suit  has  not  been  led;  C  has  discarded  the  5,  A 
is  to  lead  and  requires  every  trick  to  make  the  odd;  he 
should,  of  course,  lead  the  trey,  as  the  only  chance.  If 
the  qu  is  with  D  the  game  is  gone;  if  with  B  any  play 
wins,  but  if  with  C  it  is  the  only  play  to  win.  C,  in  the 
above  ending,  should  put  up  the  qu,  for  if  his  partner 
has  an  honor  in  the  suit — even  thekn,  his  10  must  make, 
and  if  D  does  not  hold  an  honor,  the  qu  will  not  make 
if  held  up,  as  B  would  be  most  likely  to  finesse  holding 
ace,  kn  or  k,  kn. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


515 


Ending  56. — Playing  as  at  Double  Dummy. 


(Hearts  trumps — D  leader.) 


It  is  known  that  A  ;has" four  .trumps  and  the  thirteenth 
spade,  B  must  have  two  trumps,  two  losing  clubs  and 
the  last  d.  Trumps  have  not  been  led;  D  is  in  the  lead, 
and  C  D  require  every  trick  to  make  the  odd. 

i. — D  leads  kn  h;  A  plays  3  h;  C  plays  10  h;  B  plays 
7  h. 

The  10  h  by  C  is  very  clever  play.  If  B  has  either 
the  k  or  9  of  hearts  the  game  cannot  be  saved.  C  knows 
nothing  of  the  position  of  the  k,  9  or  8  of  hearts,  but  he 
does  know  that  if  B  has  either  k  or  9  or  if  A  has  k,  8  h, 
no  play  will  save  the  game.  The  kn  h  must  win  and  be 
followed  by  the  9  or  the  game  is  gone.  C  plays  as 


510  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

though  at  double  dummy  and  throws  the  10  h  that  he 
may  not  take  the  lead  a  trick  too  soon. 

2. — D  leads  9  h;  A  plays  4  h;  C  plays  6  h;  B  plays 
8  h. 

3. — D  follows  with  2  h;  C  wins;  draws  the  k  and  the 
kn  c  makes,  and  C  D  have  the  odd  card  and  game. 


Ending  57. — Double  Dummy  No  2. 


00 


00 


£ 

o  o  o 
o 

ooo 

o 

000 

i^j^o 

o  o 
ooo 

'OOOO 
0 

loooo 

0         0 

A 

4    * 

n 

0 
0 
0 

(Spades  trumps — A  leader.) 


Diamonds  have  not  been  led.  B  is  marked  with  the 
7  s;  A  B  require  two  tricks  to  make  the  odd. 

i. — A  leads  5  s;  C  plays  7  d;  B  plays  7  s;  D  plays  2  d. 

A  must  now  make  k  d  and  the  game.  Had  A  led  a  d, 
C  D  win  the  game.  If  the  hands  of  C  and  D  are  ex- 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


517 


changed,  then  no  play  will  win,  and  if  B  has  either  ace 
or  qu,  then  any  play  wins.  A's  only  play  is  the  trump, 
and  trust  to  rinding  the  ace  (if  against)  with  D. 


Ending  58. — Overtrumping  Partner. 


000 


B 


D 


10    Ol 
(Diamonds  trumps — A  leader.) 


The  hands  can  be  counted;  C  echoed  to  D's  lead  of 
trumps  and  must  have  the  3;  D  is  marked  with  two 
trumps  and  a  heart. 

i. — A  leads  k  s;  C  trumps;  B  plays  3  s;  D  plays  7  h. 

A  must  now  make  the  small  trump.  A  leads  the  k  s 
to  induce  C  to  trump,  trusting  that  D  would  miss  the 
chance  of  overtrumping.  C's  business  was  to  make  it 
easy  for  D  by  throwing  the  heart,  forcing  D  to  trump, 
and  draw  the  trump  from  A. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST 

Ending  59. — Sticking  to  Rule. 


****; 
*    * 


•*  +  + 
+  + 

•*    +    4* 


B 


I) 


x 


*  * 

*    * 


*   * 


(Trumps  out — A  leader.) 

D  has  discarded  the  10,  9,  6  of  s. 

i.— A  leads  qu  s;  C  plays  5;  B  plays  3  s;  D  plays 
ace  c. 

2. — A  leads  7  s;  C  plays  8  s;  B  plays  kn  s;  and  C  D 
have  not  a  trick. 

C  stuck  to  the  rule,  here,  of  not  covering  an  honor 
with  an  honor,  and  throws  away  two  tricks;  had  he 
covered  he  must  have  made  his  8  s  and  a  club  trick. 
Careless  second-hand  play  in  the  ending  not  infrequently 
loses  a  trick  or  more.  It  was  C's  business  to  cover  the 
qu,  even  if  he  did  not  know  that  D  had  discarded  the 
10,  9,  for  if  B  has  the  ace  he  is  sure  to  finesse,  and  by  C's 
covering  he  will  eventually  make  the  kn,  10  or  9,  for  D, 
if  with  him. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


519 


Ending  60. —  Trumping  with  the  Middle   Card.  ' 


* 

<? 

&       9? 

: 

O     0 
0    0 

B 

c 

D 

o 

• 

[o 

F 

<3 

A 

*     •!• 

*A* 
*** 


«?•     * 
4.     * 


*     * 


(Spades  trumps — A  leader.) 


C  knows  that  B  has  the  hearts;  D  the  best  c;  A  the 
winning  d. 

i. — A  leads  k  d  ;  C  plays  10  s  ;  B  plays  4  d  ;  D  plays 
8d. 

C  very  judiciously  trumps  with  his  middle  trump.  C 
D  require  every  trick,  and  C's  only  chance  is  to  trump 
with  his  middle  trump,  and  lead  the  small,  finding  D  with 
the  9  s.  To  trump  with  the  4  s,  loses  a  trick.  A  player 
holding  three  trumps,  the  opponents  out  or  partner 
marked  with  the  second-best,  should  always  trump  in 
with  his  middle  trump,  reserving  the  option  of  throwing 
the  lead  with  partner,  with  his  lowest  trump,  later  on,  if 
expedient. 


520 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Ending  61. — Injudicious  Discarding. 


(Trumps  out — D  leader.) 

Spades  have  not  been  led.  Two  rounds  of  clubs  have 
been  played. 

i. — D  leads  qu  d  ;  A  plays  2  s  ;  C  plays  2  d  ;  B  plays 
3  c. 

A  and  B's  discards  are  ill-judged.  B,  of  course, 
should  have  thrown  the  4  s,  as  he  must  get  in  on  s  and 
his  partner  is  marked  with  the  best  clubs.  A  should 
have  thrown  the  c  as  it  is  evident  that  he  cannot  make 
them  all,  and  he  should  not  expose  his  hand,  thus  sub- 
jecting B  to  the  adverse  finessing  of  D. 

2.— D  leads  3  s  ;  A  plays  7  c  ;  C  plays  kn  s  ;  B  plays 
k  s. 

B  leads  4  s — and  D,  knowing  A  is  void,  simply  covers 
with  the  9  s  and  A  B  have  but  one  trick  in  the  suit. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


521 


Had  A  discarded  a  c,  and  followed  suit  to  the  first  round 
of  spades,  D  must  have  played  qu  as  the  10  s  and  the 
winning  c  might  be  with  A,  and  the  finesse  would  lose 
two  tricks,  a  risk  D  would  not  run,  unless  he  required 
every  trick  to  save  the  game.  Had  A  B  discarded  as 
they  should,  they  must  have  made  four  of  the  five  tricks. 

Ending  62. — Discarding  No  2. 


£>  O 

E>  £>  £>  D-HO <> 


0«° 

*** 

0     O 

*  * 

»«0 

*** 

B 


I) 


* 

<3    <3    <3i 
<3    <3    <3 

*** 
**+ 

*A* 
A*A 


*      * 


* 


(Diamonds  trumps — B  leader.) 

Hearts  have  not  been  led — clubs  one  round. 

i. — B  leads  8  d  ;  D  plays  2  c ;  A  plays  10  h  ;  C  plays 

5d. 

2. — B  leads  4  h  ;  D  plays  2  h  ;  A  plays  3  c  ;  C  plays 
7h. 

A's  discard  of  the  10  h  was  bad.  While  it  is  true  that 
the  10  h  was  not  likely  to  make  a  trick  or  even  help  to 


522  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

make  a  trick  for  B,  yet  it  was  certain  that  A  could  not 
make  all  his  clubs  and  he  should  have  discarded  the  3  c 
— retaining  his  10  h  in  the  hope  that  it  would  do  just 
what,  in  this  instance,  it  would  have  done — force  a  high 
card  from  C.  As: — 

i. — B  leads  8  d  ;  D  plays  2  c  ;  A  plays  3  c  ;  C  plays 

5  d- 

2. — B  leads  4  h  ;  D  plays  2  h  ;  A  plays  10  h  ;  C  plays 

ace  h. 

The  10  h  forces  the  ace  h,  and  A  B  have  three  tricks 
— a  gain  of  a  trick.  Toward  the  end  of  a  hand  it  is 
folly  to  hold  on  to  a  long  suit,  when  it  is  evident  that  it 
cannot  make  entire,  for  even  a  card  like  the  10  or  9  of 
another  suit  may  be  of  great  use  to  partner,  and  to  dis- 
card all  your  suits  and  keep  only  the  one  long  one,  in 
such  situations,  is  very  injudicious. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  523 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 


ILLUSTRATIVE    HANDS. 

THE  illustrated  hands  that  follow  are  taken  from 
actual  play. 

The  players  are  supposed  to  follow  the  rules  of  play 
as  laid  down  in  this  work. 

The  student  who  examines  the  hands,  and  draws  his 
inferences  from  the  fall  of  the  cards,  will  find  that  the 
players  do  not  always  make  the  play  the  situation  de- 
mands. But  hands  showing  good,  bad  and  indifferent 
play,  with  comments,  are  considered  of  more  value  than 
the  illustration  of  prearranged  hands. 


5*4 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


HAND  I. 

A  Neat  Play  for  the  Odd. 

(Score:    A  B,  6;  C  D,  6.      2  c  turned.      C  leader.) 
THE    HANDS. 


A'S  HAND. 

c's  HAND. 

B'S  HAND. 

D'S  HAND. 

s 

ace,  k,  9,  6,  5,  4 

qu,  8,  7,  2 

10 

kn,  3 

h 

qu 

k,  10,  4 

kn,9,  8.  7,  3,2 

ace,  6,  5 

c 

9,  8,2 

kn,  10,  5,  4 

ace,  k,  3 

qu,7,6 

d 

ace,  qu,  10 

M 

kn,  6,  3 

9,  8,  7,  5.  2 

TRICK  i. 


. 

TRICKS|CD[ 


TRICK  2. 


Trick  2. — A's  position  is  difficult.  He  leads  the  qu  h; 
assuming  that  if  B  has  any  suit  it  must  be  hearts.  Thed 
or  s  is  out  of  the  question,  and  he  prefers  the  strengthen- 
ing qu  h  to  the  trump. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


525 


TRICK  3. 


B 


TRICK  4. 


B 


Trick  4. — A  is  in  a  dilemma,  and  he  prefers  the  lead 
of  a  trump  to  forcing  partner  or  opening  from  his  dia- 
mond tenaces. 


TRICK  5. 


TRICK  6. 


B 


•  i 

* 

J 

V 

*    * 

*,* 

4*  j.4* 

j> 

ifciljL 

4» 

f  ***  JL 

I  —  f-  —  i       J»f&!f*\^ 

c 

•!• 

D 

c 

•!•      "P 

^^ffi  n 

* 

V      ™ 

•{•      •{• 

•      A 

mm 

*    * 

4.  * 

4»    4» 

4»  * 

* 

**t 

A 

A 

TRK 

,JAB,4 
cst  C  D,  i 

TRTPKS  j  A  B,  4 
[CKSKD.2 

Tricks  5-6. — B  knows  that  A  has  led  trumps  irom 
three,  possibly  only  two,  but  he  reads  him  with  strength 
in  the  other  suits. 


5=6 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


TRICK  7. 


TRICK  8. 


TR,CKSJ£B;5 


TRICK  9. 


TRICK  10. 


s?       ^>? 

v    <? 


O    0 
0% 


Trick  9. — The  10  h,  by  C,  is  a  neat  play.  Had  C 
trumped  the  ace,  the  game  was  lost.  A  must  now  lead 
to  C's  tenace  in  s. 

Tricks  11-13. — C  makes  the  remaining  tricks,  and 
C  D  score  the  odd  card  and  game. 

Remark. — C  saved  the  game  by  clever  end-play. 
Throwing  the  lead  is  at  times  very  effective.  Only  by 
the  lead  of  the  4  d  (trick  8)  and  the  discard  of  the  10  h 
(trick  9)  could  C  make  the  game. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


527 


HAND  II. 

A   Critical  Ending. 

(Score:  AB,5;CD,6.     30  turned.     C  leader.) 
THE     HANDS. 


A'S  HAND. 

C'S  HAND. 

B'S  HAND. 

D'S  HAND. 

s 

qu,  10 

k,  6,  5, 

ace,  9,  8,  7,  2 

kn,  4,  3 

h 

k,  4 

9,  8,  6,  5 

kn,  7 

ace,qu,  10,  3,2 

C 

10,  8,  6,  3 

ace,  k,  kn 

9>  7,  5.  4 

qu,  2 

d 

ace,  10,  6,  5,  2 

qu,  kn,  4 

k,9 

8,7,3 

The  Play. 


TRICK  i. 


TRICK  2. 


B 


TRICKS  i  AB' 
ICKS'j  CD. 


528 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


TRICK  3. 


B 


TRICK  4. 


TRICKS 


JAB, 
(CD, 


TRICK  5. 


TRICK  6. 


TRICKS 


f  AB>4 
(CD,  i 


The  play  so  far  has  been  strictly  conventional.  The 
hand  is  very  ordinary;  but  the  simplest  hands,  and  the 
most  routine  play,  often  bring  out  situations  that  demand 
careful  and  exact  work.  D  reads  that  the  trumps  are 
probably  nearly  evenly  divided;  the  hearts  are  estab- 
lished; he  has  the  best  spade,  C  most  likely  the  qu  d — it 
cannot  be  with  B.  B's  hand  is  evidently  either  four  spades 
and  three  trumps,  or  four  trumps  and  three  spades. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


529 


TRICK  7. 

TRICK  8. 

B 

B 

*    * 

/ 

> 

*    * 

KW- 

*    * 

F 

t; 

f^ffii 

j 

4.    4. 

r^n 

c 

I 

y 

D 

c 

=.^/:v 

1              D 

'^j 

* 

g 

!^- 

1 

*    * 

1  * 

* 

*    * 

jt. 

-4 

J» 

*    * 

A 

A 

TRICKS|cD;3 

TRICKS  ]  Q  j)'  4 

Trick  7.  —  D  is  justified  in  starting  trumps,  although  he 

has  but  two. 

TRICK  9. 

TRICK  10. 

B 

B 

+- 

*  ,  * 

^. 

4.    * 

^ 

* 

/* 

*           * 

i 

4.    4. 

i 

*** 

*    * 

0 

O 

C?       C9 

rn 

^ 

C 

* 

^ 

D 

C 

D 

•?-     v 

0 

<? 

"  0 

3? 

, 

<^>        <v? 

9? 

*       * 

•¥• 

4.** 

O 

A 

A 

TRICKS  \  t 

L  B,  4 

TRICKS  j  c  D'  5 

(  *- 

D,  5 

Trick  10. — C  here  plays  the  only  card  to  win  the 
game.  If  he  leads  a  s  or  d,  he  loses  two  tricks  and  the 
game.  In  this  hand,  as  actually  played,  C  led  the  qu  d, 
and  defended  his  play  upon  the  ground  that  if  he  led 
a  h,  B  would  trump  and  A  discard,  and  that  B  would 


530 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


then  lead  a  spade  which  A  would  trump — thus  making 
their  trumps  separately. 

But  C  did  not  go  deep  enough.  When  D  at  trick  9 
discarded  the  8  d,  C  could  locate  every  card  except  the 
kn  s.  A  must  have  the  10,  6,  2,  d,  and  a  trump;  B  three 
s  and  a  trump;  D  three  hearts  and  a  s.  B's  spades  may 
be  the  kn,  9,  2,  or  the  9,8,  2;  if  the  former,  C  D  will  not 
take  a  trick  no  matter  how  C  plays.  D  must  have  the 
kn  s  or  the  game  cannot  be  made  or  saved,  and  C  should 
have  played  upon  the  assumption  that  D  had  the  kn  s, 
and,  consequently,  the  heart  is  the  only  play.  One  of 
the  opponents  will  trump  and  the  other  discard,  whether 
C  leads  a  h  or  d.  But  C  should  have  played  so  that 
both  their  re-entry  cards  could  not  be  trumped. 


TRICK  ii. 


TRICK  12. 


Trick  13. — D  makes  the  h  trick,  and  C  D  score  the  odd 
card  and  game. 

Remark. — The  above  hand  offers  a  good  illustration 
of  how  completely  at  the  mercy  of  the  cards  the  best 
players  may  sometimes  be,  even  against  weak  play.  A 
B  might  have  played  their  cards  to  score  nine  tricks. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  531 

Suppose  A,  at  trick  2,  leads  a  trump,  a  play  for  which 
there  is  no  justification;  C  must  win  with  one  of  his 
honors,  and  has  nothing  to  do  but  go  on  with  hearts;  D 
wins  with  ace,  and  must  then  open  either  the  sord;  if  he 
selects  the  kn  s  as  the  card  less  likely  to  deceive  or  injure 
D,  it  is  won  by  13,  who  returns  the  trump,  and  A  B  score 
three  by  cards — a  difference  of  three  tricks. 


53* 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


HAND  III. 

Compelling   the  Opponent  to  Play  a  Coup   to    Save 
the  Game. 

(Score:  A  B,  4;  C  D,  6.     Ace  s  turned.     D  leader.) 
THE     HANDS. 


A'S    HAND. 

C'S  HAND. 

B'S  HAND. 

D'S  HAND. 

S 

qu,  10,  4,  3 

kn,  8,  7,  5 

ace,  k 

9,6,  2 

h 

3>2 

kn,  7,  6,  5 

ace,  k,  qu,  8,  4 

10,  9 

c 

8,7,2 

kn,  10,  9 

6,4,  3 

ace,  k,  qu,  5 

cl 

k,  9>  3,  2 

qu,  6 

ace,  5,  4 

kn,  10,  8,  7 

The  Play. 


TRICK  i. 


TRICK  2. 


TRICKS 


JAB, 
(  C  D. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


533 


TRICK  3. 


TRICKS 


j  A  B,o 


TRICK  4. 


B 


O     O 
O     O 


D 


A 
TRICKS 


Trick  3. — D  goes  on  with  clubs,  hoping  to  profit  by 
C's  discard,  as  he  is  the  one  most  likely  to  be  void.  But 
D's  better  play  would  have  been  his  fourth-best  d,  re- 
taining the  ace  of  clubs  as  a  probable  useful  card  of 
re-entry. 


TRICK  5. 


TRICK  6. 


D 


Trick  5. — A  begins  a  late  call;  B  may  have  the  hearts 
well  in  hand,  and  if  A  can  have  a  d  come  through  D,  A 
will  make  two  tricks  in  the  suit.  Besides,  B  has  the  ace 
turned,  and  if  the  second  round  of  trumps  should  fall  to 


534 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


C,  the  position  is  in  A's  favor,  as  C  must  then  lead  either 
a  h  or  a  d. 

Trick  6.— The  2  h  not  falling  (Trick  5),  and  the  9  h 
dropping  from  D,  B  deems  it  best  to  exact  two  rounds  of 
trumps. 


TRICK  7. 


TRICKS  |  AB,  4 


TRICK  8. 


B 


TRICKS]  £^'5 


Trick  8. — B's  lead  of  the  ace  h  was  ill-advised.     (See 
remarks.) 


TRICK  9. 


D 


TRICK  10. 


Trick  10. — C  plays  a  fine  coup.     The  sacrifice  of  the 
kn  s  is  the  only  way  to  save  the  game.     C  can  read  that 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


535 


A  is  sure  to  follow  with  the  losing  trump,  if  C  throws  the 
8s.  If  C  does  not  part  with  control,  he  must  then  lead 
a  heart  to  sure  defeat. 


TRICK  ii. 


TRICK  12. 


TR.CKSJAB.7 


Trick  13. — A  makes  the  10  s,  and  A  B  score  two  by 
cards,  and  C  D  save  the  game. 

Remark. — It  not  infrequently  happens  that  a  player 
must  sacrifice  a  high  card  in  the  ending  to  avoid  the 
lead.  C  saved  the  game,  at  trick  10,  by  throwing  the 
kn.  C  was  powerful  only  for  harm,  and  had  he  played 
solely  for  his  own  hand,  he  could  have  taken  one  trick, 
but  he  would  have  lost  two  for  his  partner.  C  did  not 
take  a  trick,  but  he  made  it  possible  for  D  to  take  two 
tricks  that  would  have  been  lost  except  for  his  skillful 
work.  There  can  be  no  real  whist  unless  each  player 
plans  for  the  play  of  twenty-six  cards. 

B,  by  the  lead  of  the  ace  h — trick  8 — made  it  possible 
for  C  D  to  save  the  game.  B  should  have  led  the  4  d.  A 
was  marked  with  two  trumps,  and  B  should  have  played 
to  let  A  in,  to  draw  the  trumps.  Besides,  there  was  too 
much  danger  of  doing  just  what  B  did — draw  A's  last 
heart.  Furthermore,  the  risk  of  D  trumping  the  ace  h 
was  great.  Had  B,  at  trick  8,  led  the  d  through  D,  A  B 
must  have  made  three  by  cards,  and  game. 


536 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC   WHIST. 


HAND  IV. 


Departing  from  Rule. 


(Score:  A  B,  i;  C  D,  6.     4  h  turned.     C  leader.) 


THE     HANDS. 


A'S  HAND. 

C'S  HAND. 

B'S  HAND. 

D'S  HAND. 

s 

S 

k,  qu,  kn,  10 

ace,  2 

9,  8,  7,  6,  4,  3 

h 

qu,9,7,6,  5,4,3 

kn,  8 

ace,  10,  2 

k 

c 

kn,  6,  4 

9>  8,  7,  2 

k,  10,  5 

ace,  qu,  3 

cl 

6,5 

9,8,3 

ace,qu,  k  11,7,  4 

k,  10,  2 

Play. 


TRICK  i. 

TRICK  2. 

B 

I   ^ 

^ 

@ 

O 

t 

EK] 

* 

0 

O 

c  BH| 

* 

D 

c 

<£> 

n 

(wii"^^i 

A        * 

O     0 

o.iiii§}i 

A 

o 

<^> 

+  *4 

o   o 

A 

A 

TRICKS  j  £ 

B,  i 

D,o 

TRICKS^   A    B'2 

|  C  D,o 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


537 


TRICK  3. 


TRICK  4. 


c 

' 


Trick  4. — D  has  nothing  better  than  to  return  his  part- 
ner's suit.  A  did  not  call  even  though  holding  seven 
trumps.  A  ruffs  with  the  6 — the  fourth-best. 


TRICK  5. 


TRICK  6. 


TRICKS  1  CD'SI 


Trick  5. — A  leads  trumps  for  B's  d,  and  shows  three 
higher  than  the  6. 

Trick  6. — B  reads  five  trumps  with  A,  yet  in  hand;  D 
can  have  no  more,  and  C  but  one.  The  return  of  the  2  h 
is  the  one  bright  play  of  the  hand.  The  book  play  is  to 


538 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


return  the  10,  the  higher  of  two,  but  B  sees  the- game— 
the  qu  h  with  A — if  he  can  make  the  diamonds,  and  he 
trusts  to  A  reading  the  play. 


TRICK  7. 


fo 


TRICK 


0!  D 


• 


TRICKS 


Trick  7. — A  reads  the  situation.  B  must  have  the  10 
h  unless  C  is  playing  false,  and  even  if  C  has  the  10,  it 
must  make,  and  nothing  is  lost  for,  if  C  has  the  10  h,  A 
will  trump  the  spades,  when  led,  and  lead  B  the  strength- 
ening kn  c. 

Tricks  9-13. — B  brings  in  the  diamonds,  and  A  makes 
the  long  trumps,  and  A  B  score  six  by  cards  and  game. 

Remark. — A  player  is  always  justified  in  departing 
from  rule  when  the  situation  demands  it.  Such  play  does 
not  usually  deceive  partner  or  the  opponents,  for  the 
previous  fall  of  the  cards  is  of  such  a  character  as  to 
warrant  all  the  players  to  suspect  exceptional  play;  at 
least  they  draw  inferences  subject  to  the  probability  that 
the  play  may  be  irregular. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


539 


HAND  V. 

Anticipating   a    Call. 

(Score:  A  B,  6;  C  D,  4.     Kn  s  turned.     A  leader.) 
THE     HANDS. 


A'S  HAND. 

C'S  HAND. 

B'S  HAND. 

D'S  HAND. 

S 

qu,  5»  3.  2 

ace,  k,  10,  8 

9,4 

kn,  7,  6 

h 

k,  kn,  9 

4,  2 

ace,  qu,  10,  8 

7,  6,  5,  3 

c 

kn 

ace,  k,  qu,  8,  4 

10,  9,  7,  6 

5,3.2 

d 

qu,  10,  8,  5,  3 

9,6 

k,  kn,  7 

ace,  4,  2 

The  Play. 


TRICK  i. 


B 


o  o 

O     0 


V 


O    O 

O 
O    O 


TRICKS|CD;O 


TRICK  2. 


Trick  i. — D  refuses  to  take  the  k.  C  has  played  a 
suspiciously  high  card,  and  may  be  calling;  if  so,  and  B 
returns  the  suit,  D,  by  playing  the  ace,  will  be  in  to 
answer  the  call.  If  B  does  not  return  the  suit,  C  will  be 
last  player  to  any  suit  B  may  open,  and  D  prefers  this  to 
taking  the  lead  and  opening  a  suit  only  7  high. 


540 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


Trick  2. — B  returns  his  partner's  suit  in  preference  to 
opening  the  double  tenace  in  hearts.  B  can  read  that  A 
has  qu,  10,  8  d;  D  the  4  d.  C  completes  the  call. 


TRICK  3. 


TRICK  4. 


:*: 

*    4 


D 


A 

TRICKS 


TRICK  5. 


TRICK  6. 


CD.  5 


Trick  5. — B  discards  from  his  best  protected  suit. 
The  object  in  this  is  very  evident  here.  If  B  discards 
from  the  club  suit  he  loses  two  tricks. 

Trick  6. — B  plays  well  by  discarding  another  heart. 
C's  suit  must  be  clubs,  and  unless  he  has  quart  major,  B 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


541 


must  make  the  10  c.     B  must  keep  the  D  to  give  to  A, 
as  the  k  of  h  may  be  against. 


TRICK  7. 


D 


TRICK  8. 


Trick  8. — A's  discard  of  the  9  h  is  well  judged.  He 
reasons  that  B  must  have  10,  9,  or  10,  8  of  c,  for  if  B 
held  originally  but  three  clubs,  his  second  discard  would 
(most  likely)  have  been  the  6  c  and  not  the  10  h.  But, 
aside  from  this  negative  inference,  A  can  read  that  B 
must  have  two  clubs  remaining.  He  is  marked  with  the 
ace,  qu  h  only,  the  7  d  and  two  clubs. 


TRICK  9. 


TRICKS 


A  B,  i 
C  D,8 


TRICK  10. 


542  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Tricks  11-13.— B  makes  the  ace  h,  and  TO  c;  A  the  qu 
d,  and  C  D  score  two  by  cards,  and  A  B  save  the  game. 

Remark. — D's  underplay  to  the  first  trick,  and  B's 
judicious  discarding  (Tricks  5  and  6)  are  worthy  of  note. 
The  object  in  discarding  from  the  best  protected  suit, 
when  trumps  are  declared  against,  is  very  obvious  in  this 
instance.  Had  B  weakened  his  club  suit  by  a  single  dis- 
card, he  rendered  it  worthless.  Besides,  when  players 
can  be  depended  upon  to  make  the  correct  discards,  the 
play  is  often  very  informatory.  For  example,  B's  dis- 
card of  the  8  and  10  of  h,  marked  him  with  the  ace  and 
qu  of  the  suit,  and  A's  discard  (Trick  8)  of  the  9  h  en- 
abled B  to  read  him  with  the  k,  kn  h.  It  was  immaterial 
whether  A  discarded  the  9  h  or  the  8  d,  at  trick  8,  as  far 
as  making  tricks  was  concerned,  but  A  knew  that  if  he 
threw  the  9  h,  B  could  read  his  holding  in  the  suit. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST, 


543 


HAND  VI. 

Holding  Up. 

(Score:  A  B,  6;  C  D,  o.     2  h  turned.     C  leader.) 
THE    HANDS. 


A*S  HAND. 

c's  HAND. 

B'S  HAND. 

D'S  HAND. 

s 

qu>  7 

k,  8,  5 

ace,  kn,4,  3,  2 

io,  9,  6 

h 

ace,  qu,  3,  2 

io,  9,  8 

5,4 

k,  kn,  7,  6 

C 

6,5 

io,  9,  7 

8,  4,  3.  2 

ace,  k,  qu,  kn 

d 

ace,  k,  7,  6,  4 

qu,  kn,  io,  9 

8,5 

3>2 

77/<?  Play. 


TRICK  i. 

6 

D 

TRK 
1 

O  O  O  O!  X  K 

o 
oooo\ 

B 

O    <> 
0 
O    O 

%° 

0      o 

o 

0 

o 

o 

D 

o 

O     0 
0     <> 

0     O 
0     0 
0     0 

A 

TRICKS  i  A  B'° 
(  C  D,  i 

A 
TRTCKJ  AB,o 
Cs|  C  D,2 

Trick   i. — A    refuses  to  take    the    queen.      (See  Re- 
marks.) 

Trick  2. — C  shows  kn,  io  d  only.      D  can   read  that  A 


544 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


is  holding  up,  and  that  he  is  probably  strong  in  trumps, 
but  he  is  forced  to  complete  the  call. 


TRICK  3. 


B 


RICK  4. 


C 
c 


5?    <y 


Trick  3. — A  still  refuses  to  take.  D  does  not  echo  as 
he  reads  A's  play. 

Trick  4. — D  played  without  due  consideration  here  ; 
he  should  have  put  up  the  kn  h,  forcing  A  to  take  the 
lead. 


TRICK  5. 


^ 


B 


V 

C?      05 

X  * 


TRICK  6. 


*** 

4. 4. 

*_* 

V 


^_, 


A 
TRICKS 


j  A  B,2 
|CD,4 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


545 


Trick  5. — C  is  also  at  fault  here.  He  could  read  that 
if  A  was  not  holding  up,  he  could  have  no  more  trumps. 
The  four  honors  are  yet  in  play  ;  D  cannot  have  all  four 
or  he  surely  would  have  echoed,  and  B  would  certainly 
have  covered  the  9,  holding  any  two  of  the  honors  four 
in  suit. 


TRIG 
C 

K  7. 

B 

D 

TRIG 
C 

K  8. 

B 

* 
_*_ 

*__* 

O  .  O 
0°0 
000 
00 

n 

|*     * 

ICKS|CD;! 

0^^  •» 

o 

A 

V       A 
TUCKS     {A*  3 

A 

TRICK  9. 
B 

TRICK  10. 

B 

*** 

*  * 

**+ 

D 
B,5 

r^^  i 
C    P  i^P 

© 

C 

*  * 

*** 
*** 

*  * 

|;| 

*       D 

J 

o&. 

A 
TR 

O    0 

C     0 

A 

^       A 

TRICKS  \  n 
(  *•• 

Trick  10. — A  leads  B  the  strengthening   spade.     C's 
cover  is  good;  if  he  passes  he  lgs.es,  twp  tricks,   C,  noting 


546 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


that  D  has  discarded   three  spades — the  6,  9,  10, — sees 
that  by  putting  up  the  k,  he  must  make  his  8  s. 


TRICK  ii. 


TRICK  12. 


TRICKS 


j  AB, 
(  C  D, 


Trick  13. — D  makes  his  k  c  and  A  B  score  the  odd 
card  and  game. 

Remark. — Such  unusual  finesse  as  A  practiced  (Tricks 
1-4)  is  rarely  sound.  The  temptation  to  underplay  was 
great.  His  situation  was  difficult  ;  if  he  took  the  qu  d 
(Trick  i)  he  had  nothing  to  lead  to  apparent  advantage. 
But  here,  as  in  the  vast  majority  of  cases,  ordinary  play 
would  have  resulted  in  more  tricks,  and  the  safest  play 
for  A  was  to  win  the  qu  d  and  lead  the  qu  s.  A's  per- 
sistent holding  up  was  successful  only  because  the  oppo- 
nents permitted  it  to  become  so,  for  D  (Trick  4)  and  C 
(Trick  5)  could  have  defeated  A's  game,  as  pointed  out 
in  the  notes.  C's  play  of  the  k  s  (Trick  10)  illustrates 
that  second  hand  is  often  directed  to  the  correct  play  by 
the  previous  discards. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


HAND  VII. 

Refusing  to  Answer  the  Call. 

(Score:  AB,4;CD,6.     30  turned.     A  leader.) 
THE    HANDS. 


A'S  HAND. 

C'S  HAND. 

B'S  HAND. 

D'S  HAND. 

s 

ace,  k,  qu,  4,  3 

kn,  10,  8,  7,  5 

-. 

9,  6,  2 

h 

kn,  6 

qu,  7.  4 

ace,  k,  10,  9,  8 

5'  3.  2 

c 

2 

7 

ace,  k,  10,  $,  4 

qu,kn,  9,8,6,3 

d 

kn,  7,  6,  4,  3 

ace,  k,  qu,  2 

10,  9,  8 

5 

The  Play. 


TRICK  i. 


TRICK  2. 


Trick  i. — B  makes  the  single  discard  call. 

Trick  2. — A  very  judiciously  refuses  to  answer  the 
call.  He  can  safely  go  on  with  s,  giving  B  another  dis- 
card. A  has  no  re-entry,  and  he  must  make  the  spades 
now  or  not  at  all. 


548 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


TRICK  3. 


TRICK  4. 


D 


Trick  3. — A  keeps  up  the  s,  he  has  but  one  trump,  and 
deems  it  best  to  give  B  another  discard.  If  either  C  or 
D  is  void  of  s,  then  one  or  the  other  must  have  held  six 
originally,  which  A  considers  is  unlikely. 

Trick  4. — B's  suit  must  be  hearts,  and  A  prefers  to 
lead  B. the  strengthening  kn  in  preference  to  the  trump. 
Had  A  answered  the  call  at  this  point  ;he  would  have  lost 
two  tricks  and  it  would  have  brought  about  a  very  neat 
ending.  (See  Critical  Ending,  No.  51.) 


TRICI 
C 

<  5- 

B 

9? 

D 

B,5 
D,o 

TRIC 
C 

K  6. 

B 

-v 

9?  9? 
9  9? 

* 

09       C9 
^       9? 

*** 

*  * 

A  ^ 

* 

*       D 
* 

:: 

* 

1 

V       A 
TRICKS  1  A 

TRICKS  |AB;  6 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


549 


Trick  5. — A,  of  course,  goes  on  with  hearts,  giving  B 
the  advantage  of  the  finesse  against  C. 


TRICK  7. 


TRICK  8. 


TRICKS 


j  A  B,8 
(  C  D,o 


TRICK  9. 


TRICK  10. 


Tricks  11-13. — D  leads  5  d,  and  A  B  score  three  by 
cards  and  game. 

Remark. — A  played  with  good  judgment.  It  is,  in 
exceptional  cases,  better  to  give  partner  a  strengthening 
card  in  his  proclaimed  suit,  than  to  lead  the  trump  he 
has  asked  for,  and  it  is  nearly  always  right  to  give 
partner  a  chance — as  A  did  here — to  clear  up  his  hand, 
before  answering  his  trump  request. 


55° 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


HAND  VIII. 
Fine  Play  for  the  Odd  Card. 

(Score:  A  B,  6;  C  D,  6.     2  h  turned.     A  leader.) 
THE    HANDS. 


A'S  HAND. 

c's  HAND. 

B'S  HAND. 

D'S  HAM). 

s 

ace,  8,  6,  2 

kn,  4,  3 

k,  qu,  9 

10,  7,  5 

h 

k,  S>  4,  3 

ace,  qu,  10,  6 

8,7 

kn,  9,  2 

C 

qu,  4 

k,  kn,  10 

8,  7,  6,  2 

ace,  9,  5,  3 

d 

kn,  10.  4 

7.  3>  2 

ace,  k,  qu,  9 

8,6,  5 

The  Play. 


TRICK  i. 


TRICK  2. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


551 


TRICK  3. 

B 

^ 

D 

TRIC 
C 

K4. 

B 

A 

00 

0<>0 
00 

O 

O 
C      o 

o 

O  O 
0  O 
0  0 

0    O 

0% 

oj|U 

A 

TRICKS-!  AB'3 
ICKS|  C  D,o 

A 

Twirw-Q  '              '  4 
1RICKSJ  c  D    Q 

Trick  4. — C  reads  that  B  has  not  strength  in  trumps  ; 
as,  with  the  spades  and  diamonds  well  in  hand,  B  would 
have  led  trumps,  even  if  only  moderately  strong  in  them. 


TRICK  5. 


A 
TRICKS 


(AB.s 
1  C  D,o 


TRICK  6. 


TRICKS 


{££? 


Trick  6. — B  is  now  marked  with  the  9  d,  three  small 
clubs,  and  at  the  most  three  trumps,  most  likely  two 
trumps  and  one  spade. 


552 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


TRICK  7. 

TRICK  8. 

B 

B 

q 

44 

•?•  .  * 

A     J 

4  *  4 


A 

TRICKS 


B.6 
D,  i 


*** 
*** 


A 
TRICKS 


A  B,6 
CD,  2 


Trick  7. — The  situation  is  unique.  A  B  have  six 
tricks  home,  and  A  has  the  k  of  trumps  three  times 
guarded  and  yet  against  the  best  play  he  cannot  make 
the  single  trick.  C  must  have  trumps  come  through  A, 
as  he  (A)  has,  most  likely,  four  trumps. 

Trick  8. — A  leads  the  clubs  which  appear  to  be  the 
best.  If  A  leads  the  spade,  C  throws  the  10  c,  B  trumps, 
D  overtrumps  with  the  9,  then  leads  the  kn  h  and  follows 
with  the  deuce,  C  wins  with  10  h,  and  leads  the  kn  r, 
which  D  wins  and  leads  a  club  through  A,  and  A  B  can- 
not make  the  needed  trick. 


TRICK  g. 


TRICK  10. 


TRICKS 


A  B,6 
CD,  4 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


553 


Trick  9. — C's  play  of  the  10  h  is  a  very  neat  stroke, 
and  is  the  only  play  to  make  the  game.  C  reads  that  if 
the  k,  9  are  with  A,  or  the  9  and  one  other  with  B,  the 
game  is  gone.  C  does  not  play  the  10  h  to  echo,  but  to 
avoid  taking  the  9  next  led  by  D,  for  if  D  has  not  the 
9  no  play  will  save  the  game. 


TRICK  ii. 


TRICK  12. 


B 


Trick  13. — C  makes  the  kn  clubs,  and  C  D  score  the 
odd  card  and  game. 

Remark. — It  not  infrequently  occurs  that  a  player 
must  play  as  though  he  saw  the  hands,  as  at  double 
dummy.  At  trick  8,  C  and  D  saw  the  game  was  lost 
unless  the  trumps  lay,  just  as  they  did  lie,  and  they 
played  as  though  they  saw  A's  hand.  If  these  cards 
were  not  with  A,  nothing  was  lost;  if  they  were  there, 
they  took  the  only  way  to  win.  D  winning  his  partner's 
trick  (Trick  8)  that  he  might  lead  though  A,  and  C's 
play  of  the  10  h,  that  he  might  avoid  taking  the  lead, 
were  neat  coups,  and  they  forced  a  win  when  defeat 
seemed  almost  inevitable. 


554 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


HAND  IX. 

Throwing  High  Cards. 

(Score:  A  B,  3;  C  D,  4.     8s  turned.     C  leader.) 
THE     HANDS. 


A'S  HAND. 

C'S  HAND. 

B'S  HAND. 

D'S  HAND. 

s 

qu,  8,  7,  6 

10,  2 

ace,  k,  kn 

9,  5,  4,  3 

h 

k,  qu,  2 

7,6,3 

kn,  10,  9,  8 

ace,  5,  4 

C 

kn,  10,  6 

7,3,2 

ace,  k,  qu,  8 

9,  5-4 

d 

6,4,  2 

ace,  k,  qu,  8,  7 

5,3 

kn,  10,  9 

The  Play. 


TRICK  i. 

B 

D 

B,  o 
D,  i 

TRIG 
f 

C 

K   2. 

•>- 

B 

D 

O 
0 

O 

O     0 
0 
O     O 

oooo 
o 
oooo 

0 

oooo 
o  o 
oooo 

0~0 
O     0 

0 

o 

A 
TRICKS  j  A 

A 

TRICKS  1  A  B'° 
ICKbjC  D,2 

Trick  2. — C  is  marked  with  the  k  and  two  small  d. 
D  has  the  kn  d  or  void.  C  notes  that  D's  hand  must  be 
weak,  as  otherwise  he  would  have  most  likely  asked  for 
trumps,  for  when  C  opened  d  with  qu,  D  having  the  10, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


555 


9  could  read  C  with  the  tierce  major,  or  k,  qu  and  three 
(or  more)  small  of  the  suit. 


TRICK  3. 


^ 


B 


A 
TRICKS 


D 


s5AB,i 
s  \  C  D,  2 


TRICK  4. 


Trick  3  — C  has  nothing  better  than  to  go  on  with  the 
d.  B  takes  the  force,  as  A  must  have  at  least  one  more 
d,  unless  D  is  unblocking. 


TRICK  5. 


D 


TRICK  6. 


** 


D 


* 

*    * 
*_* 

A 
TRICKS  |  A  g.  4 


Tricks  4-5. — B  exacts  two  rounds  of  trumps  to  protect 
his  club  suit,  besides  he  is  justified  in  assuming  that  A 


556 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


has  fair  strength  in  hearts  and  trumps.     A  echoes  and  is 
marked  with  the  qu,  8  or  9,  8  of  trumps. 


TRICK  7. 


TRICK  8. 


Trick  8. — The  play  of  the  qu  h  by  A  is  a  good  one. 
He  reads  the  9,  5  of  trumps  with  D,  and  prepares  to 
avoid  taking  the  lead  at  trick  n.  The  play  of  the  deuce 
of  h  would  have  lost  a  trick.  B  is  marked  with  the  ace 
and  a  small  club.  He  leads  the  kn  of  h  from  tierce  to 
kn,  to  force  at  once  the  higher  cards. 


TRICK  9. 


TRICK  10. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


557 


Trick  9. — B  very  properly  wins  the  trick  as  he  can 
read  the  situation. 

Trick  10. — B  leads  the  thirteenth  club,  and  A's  play 
of  the  k  h  is  in  keeping  with  his  play  at  trick  8. 


TRICK  ii. 


TRICK  12. 


Trick  13. — A  makes  the  qu  s  and  A  B  score  four  by 
cards  and  game. 

Remark. — A's  play  of  the  qu  and  king  of  hearts  (Tricks 
8  and  10)  was  very  clever,  and  is  the  only  point  in  the 
play.  In  such  situations  as  this  the  player  should  get 
rid  of  any  high  card  that  will  force  him  into  the  lead  at 
trick  eleven,  even  if  he  cannot  read  his  partner  with 
command  of  the  suit,  for  the  play  cannot  lose,  and  may 
gain  a  trick. 


558 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


HAND  X. 

Holding   Up  and  Underplay. 

(Score:    A  B,  5;  C  D,  6.      3d  turned.      C  leader.) 

THE     HANDS. 


A'S  HAND. 

C'S  HAND. 

B'S  HAND. 

D*S  HAND. 

s 

ace,  k,  4,  2 

10,  9>  7,  3 

qu,  kn,  8,  6,  5 

h 

qu,  kn,  9,  8 

ace,  7,6,5,4,3,2 

k 

10 

c 

ace 

k,  qu,  kn 

10,9,  8,7,  5,4 

6,3,2 

d 

ace,  9,  4,  3 

k,  qu,  kn 

10,  5 

8,  7,  6,  2 

The  Play. 


TRICK  i. 


TRICKS 


TRICKS 


Trick  i.— The  fall  is  unusual.  C  reads  that  D  is  cal- 
ling and  unblocking — holding  the  kn,  10,  9,  8.  A's  play 
of  the  qu  deceives  C,  but  the  play  is  not  false. 

Trick  2. — A  does  not  object  to  having  trumps  come 
out,  and  refuses  to  take  the  k  d. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


559 


TRICK  3. 


TRICK  4. 


Trick  3. — A  passes  again.  Holding  ace,  9 — the  10 
falling  from  B,  A  reads  that  if  C  goes  on  with  trumps  he 
(A)  can  draw  all  the  trumps,  make  his  hearts,  the  ace  and 
king  of  spades  and  the  ace  of  c,  thus  assuring  the  game. 
D  has  shown  but  four  trumps  by  his  echo. 

Trick  4. — C  goes  on  with  trumps,  as  he  is  justified  in 
reading  D  with  the  ace  and  one  more,  and  giving  D  the 
remaining  hearts,  he  trusts  to  make  his  own  long  hearts, 
having  re-entry  cards  in  clubs. 


TRIG 
C 

K    5- 

B 

0^0 

0*0 

D 

TRIC 
C 

K  6. 

B 

*    * 
* 

*    * 

4     4 

I 

|^D 

ooool 

O  1 

ooooj 

4 

1 

\ 

V       A 
TRICKSicD,'3 

A 
TRICKS  |  A  B,  a 

Trick  6. — A,   having  sure  re-entry  cards,  underplays, 


560 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


or  rather  finesses  upon  the  lead.  B  has  not  great  strength 
in  clubs,  as  by  his  discard  of  4,  then  5,  he  shows  some 
strength  in  spades.  Had  B  here  great  strength  in  clubs 
he  would  have  reversed  the  order  of  his  discards.  A 
would  not  lead  the  k  of  spades  in  any  event,  for,  if  B 
cannot  win  the  first  round  for  him,  A  cannot  count  on 
more  than  two  tricks  in  the  suit.  The  ace  of  c,  the  two 
tricks  in  s,  and  three  h  tricks  give  A  the  game,  but  in 
Long  Whist  every  card  is  played  for  the  best. 


TRIG 
C 

K  7. 

B 

ICl 

D 
> 

TRIC 
C 

:K  8. 

B 

*** 

*    * 

*    * 

*** 

X 

i 

*    * 
*    * 
*    * 

r^ 

* 
D 
•!• 

* 

:-: 

-4 

«  j  c 

V 

A 

A 
TRICKS  |  A  B,  4 

Tricks  9-13. — A  makes  the  ace  and  k  of  spades  and 
the  two  tricks  in  hearts,  and  A  B  score  two  by  cards  and 
game. 

Remark.— A  had  a  fine  hand,  and  he  played  it  well. 
It  is  often  good  play  to  refuse  to  stop  the  lead  of  trumps, 
when  you  have,  as  A  had  here,  master  cards  to  protect, 
that  must  make,  if  trumps  come  out. 

C's  hand  was  exceptional,  and  would  have  justified 
exceptional  play.  Had  C  opened  the  fourth-best  heart, 
a  play  that  can  be  defended,  even  though  the  ace  is  at 
the  head  of  seven  in  suit,  he  would  have  just  saved  the 
game  against  good  play.  The  student  will  find  material 
here  for  analysis,  by  opening  the  hand  with  the  5  h. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


HAND  XI. 

Leading  Up  to  a  Double  Tenace  in  Trumps. 
(Score:  A  B,  6;  C  D,  o.     45  turned.     C  leader.) 

THE    HANDS. 


A*S  HAND. 

C'S  HAND. 

B'S  HAND, 

D'S  HAND. 

s 

ace,  k,  9,  7,  4 

5.3 

2 

qu,kn,  10,8,6 

h 

6 

a,k,q,7,54,3,2 

kn,  10,  9,  8 

c 

ace,  k,  6,  3 

9>  8,  7,  5.  4 

10,  2 

qu,  kn 

cl 

7,  S.  4,  2 

ace,k,qu,  kn,6 

9,8 

10,3 

The  Play. 


TRICK  i. 


B 


o^ol 

0^0     D 


o   o 


TRICKS  J  AB>° 

[CKS- 


TRICK  2. 


:*: 


D 


A  B» 
c  D 


Trick  i. — C  notes  that  unless  A  has  five  diamonds,  B 


or  D  is  calling 


D  is  calling. 
Trick  2. — The  propriety  ef  C's  trump   lead  may  be 


562 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


questioned.  The  conservative  player  might  lead  the  5 
of  clubs,  and  defend  the  play  upon  the  ground  that  D 
must  have  high  cards  in  this  suit,  as  C  has  five  clubs, 
none  higher  than  the  9,  and  that  in  the  event  of  the  trick 
going  to  the  opponents,  they  must,  in  all  probability, 
open  the  heart  suit,  which  C  can  trump,  and  then,  if  the 
fall  warrants,  lead  trumps.  The  fall  of  the  cards  to  trick 
i,  in  conjunction  with  C's  hand,  render  the  position  sus- 
ceptible of  interesting  and  instructive  analysis.  C  was 
justified  in  assuming  that  either  B  or  D  was  calling.  If 
B  was  calling  the  game  was  gone,  in  all  probability.  C 
argued  that  if  D  was  not  calling,  he  must  have  numerical 
strength,  at  least  in  hearts  and  trumps.  If  it  was  B  who 
was  calling,  a  trump  led  through  might  be  of  avail.  To 
continue  the  diamonds  would  be  injudicious  for  in  the 
event  of  D  calling,  he  can  have  but  one  d,  and  as  he  (C) 
has  no  re-entry  card,  he  will  not  make  his  suit,  unless 
after  trumps  are  exhausted,  D  can  lead  a  diamond.  The 
score  favored  the  forward  game,  and  only  the  ultra  con- 
servative player  would  have  done  other  than  C,  in  his 
situation. 


TRICK  3. 

TRICK  4. 

B 

B 

51 

<»  rr 

cj>    9? 

0 

>  ^  l2flO 

C 

O 

0 

D 

r      t 

[ffiW   D 

0     0 

o 

_±J     |^ 

4 

0     0 

w 

\ 

t      A 

A 

TRICKS  |£B;i 

TRICKS    |cDf2 

MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  563 

Trick  3. — A's  lead  of  the  d  seems  the  very  best;  A 
reads  that  D  is  probably  calling,  and  that  C  has  led 
trumps  upon  this  assumption;  if  so,  A,  holding  five 
trumps,  offers  B  the  chance  of  making  a  small  trump  if 
void  of  the  suit,  which  is  most  likely,  having  played  the 
8.  Besides,  if  D  is  calling,  he  has  but  one  more  d,  and 
A  wishes  to  force  its  play  that  D  may  have  no  d  to  give 
C  later  on.  A  knows  that  the  d  must  lose  (if  B  cannot 
trump  it)  in  any  event,  and  by  its  immediate  play  he 
makes  it  lose  somewhat  to  his  advantage.  D  completes 
the  call.  C  shows  k,  qu  and  one  small  d  remaining. 

Trick  4. — B  shows  h  as  his  suit.  A  has  not  a  h,  and 
it  is  now  his  business  to  play,  if  possible,  to  force  the 
opponents  to  eventually  lead  this  suit.  A  can  read  D 
with  the  double  tenace  over  him  in  trumps. 


TRICK  5. 


TRTrKo  j  A  B,  3 
'"*  C  D,  2 


TRICK  6. 


Trick  6, — The  fall  enables  A  to  read  the  hands  with 
unusual  accuracy;  B  is  all  hearts;   I)  must  have  the  qu, 


5«4 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


8,  6  of  s  and  four  hearts;  C  the  9,  8,  7  c;  k,  qu,  6  d,  and 
one  heart. 


TRIC 
C 

:KT. 

B 

V 

F?1 

D 

B.4 
D,3 

TRIC 
C 

'K  8. 

B 

V    c? 

<y    9? 
^?    9? 
9?    9? 

0  0 
O  0 
0  0 

I8SL 

V 
\++++ 

J 

4  * 

X, 

A 
TRICKS  j  £ 

A 

TRICK-  -S  A  B'4 
[CK°1  C  D,4 

Trick  7. — A  plays  his  hand-  with  consummate  skill. 
Throwing  the  lead  at  the  proper  moment  is  always  a 
neat  point,  and  here  it  is  particularly  effective.  A  must 
throw  the  lead  with  D,  and  keep  it  there,  even  though 
he  must  lose  three  tricks  in  trumps  to  do  it.  Mark  how 
accurately  A  has  managed  his  hand.  Note  that  the  lead 
of  the  4  s  (Trick  7)  would  cost  A  three  tricks,  for  if  A  had 
led  the  4  s,  D  would  have  taken  with  the  8  s,  then  led 
the  qu  s,  and  then  put  A  into  the  lead  with  the  6  s,  and  A 
could  not  take  another  trick.  A  has  been  exact  to  the 
very  pip.  Even  the  7  was  led  in  preference  to  the  9,  as 
it  offered  D  the  triple  opportunity  to  blunder,  which  the 
9  does  not,  for  if  D  should  take  with  the  qu,  and  then 
lead  the  8  or  6,  or  if  with  the  8,  and  then  lead  the  6,  in 
each  case  he  would  lose  a  trick. 

Trick  8. — D  must  lead  the  qu  s  or  lose  a  trick.  A 
would  have  lost  two  tricks  had  he  played  the  4  s  here. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


565 


TRICK  9. 


TRICK  10. 


TRICKS 


AB.5 
CD,  5 


Trick  9— D  is  helpless;  he  must  draw  the  trump  or 
lose  a  trick. 

Tricks  11-13. — B  makes  the  ace,  qu  of  hearts,  and  D 
the  kn  h,  and  A  B  score  the  odd  card  and  game. 

Remark.— C,  by  continuing  the  d,  or  opening  the  club 
suit  (Trick  2),  might  have  done  better,  but  his  play 
would  have  succeeded  except  for  A's  fine  play,  and  the 
very  unusual  distribution  of  the  cards. 


566  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

FUNDAMENTAL    PRINCIPLES   OF    WHIST    LAWS. 

THE  laws  governing  the  play  of  American  Whist  are 
based  upon  the  following  postulations: — 

1.  The  conduct  of  the  American  game  should  be  gov- 
erned by  a  code  based  on  Whist  for  Whist,  apart  from 
stakes. 

2.  Infractions    of  whist  laws  and  rules   of  table    eti- 
quette are  unintentional. 

3.  No  player  takes  advantage  of  information  afforded 
by  breaches  of  the  law. 

4.  The  innocent  cannot  suffer  loss,  nor  the  offender 
gain  advantage,  from  any  misdemeanor — except  in  the 
case  of  the  revoke. 

5.  Whist  laws  should  be  framed  with  these  objects  in 
view,  viz.:  To  define  the  general  order  of  play,  to  pro- 
mote closer  attention,  and  to  maintain  decorum. 

6.  The   penalty  for  the   infraction   of  a  law  is  not  for 
the  purpose  of  restitution   for  damages  (except  in  the 
case  of  the  revoke),  but  solely  to  stimulate  precaution, 
and  repress  improprieties  of  play. 

7.  All  breaches  of  the  law  (except  in   the  case  of  the 
revoke)  are  equally  grave,  and  demand  in  equity  a  uni- 
form and  fixed  penalty. 

8.  It  is  impossible  to  determine  the  effect  of  the  en- 
forced play  of  a  card,  or  a  suit  as  a  penalty. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  567 

9.  Such  penalties  as  the  calling  of  cards  and  suits,  the 
demand  of  the  highest  or  lowest  of  a  suit,  or  to  trump  or 
not  to  trump  a  trick,  not  only  rob  the  score  of  its  integ- 
rity as  a  test  of  skill,  but  they  are  incompatible  with 
good  whist,  and  render  a  code  infeasible  and  unadapted 
to  general  application. 


568  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

THE   LAWS  OF    AMERICAN    WHIST. 

The  Game. 

1.  A  game   consists  of  seven  points,  or  as  many  more 
as  may  be  made  by  the  hand  in  which  seven  is  reached. 
Each  trick  above  six  counts  one  point.     Each  hand  must 
be  played  out,  and  every  trick  taken  must  be  scored. 

Forming  the  Table. 

2.  Four  persons  out  of  any  number,  by  agreement,  or 
by  cutting  or  drawing  lower  cards  than  the  rest,  form  a 
table.     These  four  may  cut  or  draw  for,  or  agree  upon, 
partners. 

Cutting. 

3.  In  cutting,  the  ace  is   the  lowest  card.     All  must 
cut  from  the  same  pack.     If  a  player  exposes  more  than 
one  card,  he  must  cut  again.     Drawing  cards  from  the 
outspread  pack  may  be  resorted  to  in  place  of  cutting. 

Shuffling. 

4.  Before  every   deal,    the    cards    must   be    shuffled. 
When  two  packs  are  used,  the  dealer's  partner  must  col- 
lect and  shuffle  the  cards  for  the  ensuing  deal  and  place 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  569 

them  at  his  right  hand.  A  pack  must  not  be  shuffled 
during  the  play  of  a  hand,  nor  so  as  to  expose  the  face 
of  any  card.  In  all  cases  the  dealer  may  shuffle  last. 

Cutting  to  the  Dealer. 

5.  The  dealer  must  present  the  pack  to  his  right  hand 
adversary  to  be  cut;  the  adversary  must  take  a  portion 
from  the  top  of  the  pack  and  place  it  towards  the  dealer; 
at  least  four  cards  must  be  left  in  each  packet;  the  dealer 
must  reunite  the  packets  by  placing  the  one  not  removed 
in  cutting  upon  the  other. 

6.  If,  in  cutting  or  reuniting  the  separate  packets,  a 
card  is  exposed,   the  pack  must  be   reshuffled   by  the 
dealer  and  cut   again;  if  there   is  any  confusion  of  the 
cards  or  doubt  as  to  the  place  where  the  pack  was  sep- 
arated, there  must  be  a  new  cut. 

7.  If  the  dealer  reshuffles  the  pack  after  it  has  been 
properly  cut,  he  loses  his  deal. 

Dealing. 

8.  When  the  pack  has  been  properly  cut  and  reunited, 
the  dealer  must  distribute  the  cards,  one  at  a'  time,  to 
each  player  in  regular  rotation,  beginning  at  his  left. 
The  last,  which  is  the  trump  card,  must  be  turned  up  at 
the  right  hand  of  the  dealer.     At  the  end   of  the  hand, 
or  when  the  deal  is  lost,  the  deal  passes  to  the  left. 

9.  Any  one  dealing  out  of  turn,  or  with  his  adver- 
saries' pack,  may  be  stopped  before   the  trump  card  is 
turned,  after  which,  the  deal  is  valid   and  the  packs,  if 
changed,  so  remain. 

10.  There  must  be  a  new  deal  by  the  same  dealer: — 

I.  If  any  card  except  the  last  is  faced  in  the 
pack. 


57°  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

II.  If,  during  the  deal  or  before  all  have  played  to 
the  first  trick,  the  pack  is  proved  to  con- 
sist of  more  or  less  than  fifty-two  cards,  or 
if  at  any  time  during  the  play  of  the  hand 
the  pack  is  proved  imperfect  in  the  rank  of 
the  cards;  but  any  prior  score  made  with 
that  pack  shall  stand. 


Misdealing. 

ii.  It  is  a  misdeal: — 

I.  If  the  dealer  omits  to  have  the  pack  cut   and 
his  adversaries  discover  the  error  before 
the  trump  card  is  turned  and  before  look- 
ing at  any  of  their  cards. 
II.  If  he  deals  a  card  incorrectly. 

III.  If  he  exposes  a  card. 

IV.  If  he  counts  the  cards  on  the  table  or  in  the 

remainder  of  the  pack. 
V.  If  he  looks  at  the  face  of  any  card  before  the 

deal  is  completed. 
VI.  If  he  places  the  trump  card  face  downwards 

upon  his  own  or  any  other  player's  cards. 
VII.  If,  having  a  pack  of  exactly  fifty- two  cards,  he 
does  not  deal  to  each  player  the  proper 
number  of  cards  and  the  error  is  discov- 
ered before  all  have  played  to  the  first 
trick, 

A  misdeal  loses  the  deal,  unless,  during  the  deal, 
either  of  the  adversaries  touches  a  card  or  in  any  other 
manner  interrupts  the  dealer. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  571 

Irregularities  in  the  Hands. 

12.  If,  at   any  time  after  all   have   played  to  the  first 
trick,  a  player  is  found  to  have  either  more  or  less  than 
his  correct  number  of  cards,  his  side   cannot  score  in 
that  hand.     If  his  adversaries  have  their  right  number, 
they  may  score,  if  by  tricks  entitled  to  do  so;  in  which 
case  the  surplus  or  missing  card  or  cards  are  not  taken 
into  account. 

The  Trump  Card. 

13.  The  trump  card  must  remain  face  upwards  on  the 
table  at  the  right  hand  of  the  dealer  until  it  is  his  turn  to 
play  the  first  trick,  and  must  be  taken  into  his  hand 
before  the  second  trick  has  been  turned  and  quitted. 

Exposed  Cards. 

14.  The  following  are  exposed  cards: — 

I.  Every  card  led  or  played  out  of  turn. 
II.  Every  card  thrown  with  the  one  led  or  played 
to  the  current  trick. 

III.  A  renounce  in  error  corrected  in  time  to  save 

a  revoke. 

IV.  Every  card   faced   upon   the    table  otherwise 

than  in  the  regular  course  of  play. 
All  exposed  cards  must  be  taken  into  the  hand  again. 

Miscella  neous. 

15.  Each  trick  must  be  turned  and  quitted  before  the 
first  card  to  the  next  trick  is  led. 

1 6.  When  a  trick  has  been  turned  and  quitted,  it  must 
not  again  be  seen  until  after  the  hand  has  been  played. 


572  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

17.  If  any  player  gathers  a  trick  that  does  not  belong 
to  his  side,  the  opposing  side  may  inform  him  of  his 
error,  and  the  offender  is  amenable  to  law  21. 

18.  Any  player  during  the  play,  may  ask  what  the 
trump  suit  is,  and  suffer  the  penalty  of  law  21,  and  the 
question  must  be  answered  by  simply  naming  the  trump 
suit. 

19.  Any  one,  during  the  play  of  a  trick  and  before 
the  cards  have  been  touched  for  the  purpose  of  gathering 
them  together,  may  demand  that  the  players  draw  their 
cards,  and  the  side  making  the  demand  must  suffer  the 
penalty  of  law  21. 

20.  All  conversation  must  cease  when  the  first  card  is 
thrown,  and  silence  must  continue  until  the  last  card  of 
the  hand  is  played. 

21.  The  penalty  for  the  infringement  of  laws  13  to  20 
inclusive,  is  the  addition  of  one  point,  for  each  offense, 
to  the  score  of  the  claimants. 

Revoking. 

22.  A  revoke  is  a  renounce  in  error  not  corrected  in 
time.     A  player  renounces  in  error,  when,  holding  one  or 
more  cards  of  the  suit  led,  he  plays  a  card  of  a  different 
suit. 

A  renounce  in  error  may  be  corrected  by  the  player 
making  it,  before  the  trick  in  which  it  occurs  has  been 
turned  and  quitted,  unless  either  he  or  his  partner, 
whether  in  his  right  turn  or  otherwise,  has  led  or  played 
to  the  following  trick. 

If  a  player  corrects  his  mistake  in  time  to  save  a 
revoke,  any  player  or  players  who  have  played  after  him 
may  withdraw  their  cards  and  substitute  others ;  the 
cards  so  withdrawn  are  not  subject  to  any  penalty. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST  573 

23.  The  penalty  for  revoking  is   the  transfer  of  two 
tricks  from  the  revoking  side  to  their  adversaries;  it  can 
be  enforced  for  as  many  revokes  as  occur  during  the 
hand.     No  score  that  wins  the  game  can  be  made  by  the 
revoking  side  ;  they  can,  nevertheless,  score  all  points 
made  by  them  up  to  the  score  of  six. 

24.  At  the  end  of  a  hand,  the  claimants  of  a  revoke 
may  search  all  the  tricks.     If  the  cards  have  been  mixed, 
the  claim  may  be  urged  and  proved,  if  possible;  but  no 
proof  is  necessary  and  the  revoke'is  established,  if,  after 
it  has  been  claimed,  the  accused  player  or  his  partner 
mixes  the  cards  before  they  have  been  examined  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  adversaries. 

Penalties. 

25.  A  penalty  must  not  be  claimed  during  the  play  of 
a  hand,  but  must  be  claimed  before  the  cards  have  been 
presented  and  cut  for  the  following  deal. 

Scoring. 

26.  The  score  for  each  hand  must  be  announced  before 
the  cards  have  been  presented  and  cut  for  the  next  deal, 
but  not  thereafter.     A  score  by  cards  takes  precedence  of 
a  score  by  penalty. 


574  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 
THE     LAWS     OF     WHIST, 

AS    REVISED    AND    ADOPTED     AT    THE 

THIRD    AMERICAN    WHIST    CONGRESS. 

Chicago,  June  20-24,  I^93- 

THE  GAME. 

1.  A  game  consists  of  seven  points,  each  trick  above  six 
counting  one.     The  value  of  the  game  is  determined  by  de- 
ducting the  losers'  score  from  seven. 

FORMING  THE  TABLE. 

2.  Those   first   in  the   room   have   the   preference.     If,   by 
reason  of  two  or  more  arriving  at  the  same  time,  more  than 
four  assemble,  the  preference  among  the  last  comers  is  deter- 
mined by  cutting,  a  lower  cut  giving  the  preference  over  all 
cutting  higher.     A  complete  table  consists  of  six;  the  foui 
having  the  preference  play.     Partners  are  determined  by  cut- 
ting ;  the  highest  two  play  against  the  lowest  two ;  the  lowest 
deals  and  has  the  choice  of  seats  and  cards, 

3.  If  two  players  cut  intermediate  cards  of  equal  value,  they 
cut  again ;  the  lower  of  the  new  cut  plays  with  the  original 
lowest. 

4.  If  three  players  cut  cards  of  equal  value,  they  cut  again. 
If  the  fourth  has  cut  the  highest  card,  the  lowest  two  of  the 
new  cut  are  partners  and  the  lowest  deals.     If  the  fourth  has 
cut  the  lowest  card,  he  deals  and  the  highest  two  of  the  new 
cut  are  partners. 

5.  At  the  end  of  a  game,  if  there  are  more  than  four  belong- 
ing to  the  table,  a  sufficient  number  of  the  players  retire  to 
admit  those  awaiting  their  turn  to  play.     In  determining  which 
players  remain  in,  those  who  have  played  a  less  number  of 
consecutive  games  have  the  preference  over  all  who  have 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  575 

played  a  greater  number;  between  two  or  more  who  have 
played  an  equal  number,  the  preference  is  determined  by  cut- 
ting, a  lower  cut  giving  the  preference  over  all  cutting  higher. 

6.  To  entitle  one  to  enter  a  table,  he  must  declare  his  inten- 
tion to  do  so  before  any  one  of  the  players  has  cut  for  the 
purpose  of  commencing  a  new  game  or  of  cutting  out. 

CUTTING. 

7.  In  cutting,  the  ace  is  the  lowest  card.     All   must  cut 
from  the  same  pack.     If  a  player  exposes  more  than  one  card, 
he  must  cut  again.     Drawing  cards  from  the  outspread  pack 
may  be  resorted  to  in  place  of  cutting. 

SHUFFLING. 

8.  Before  every  deal,  the  cards  must  be  shuffled.     When  two 
packs  are  used,  the  dealer's  partner  must  collect  and  shuffle 
the  cards  for  the  ensuing  deal  and  place  them  at  his  right 
hand.     In  all  cases  the  dealer  may  shuffle  last. 

9.  A  pack  must  not  be  shuffled  during  the  play  of  a  hand, 
nor  so  as  to  expose  the  face  of  any  card. 

CUTTING  TO   THE  DEALER. 

10.  The   dealer   must  present  the  pack   to  his   right  hand 
adversary  to  be  cut ;  the  adversary  must  take  a  portion  from 
the  top  of  the  pack  and  place  it  towards  the  dealer  ;  at  least 
four  cards  must  be  left  in  each  packet;  the  dealer  must  reunite 
the  packets  by  placing  the  one  not  removed  in  cutting  upon  the 
other. 

11.  If,  in  cutting  or  in  reuniting  the  separate  packets,  a  card 
is  exposed,  the  pack  must  be  reshuffled  by  the  dealer  and  cut 
again ;  if  there  is  any  confusion  of  the  cards  or  doubt  as  to  the 
place  where  the  pack  was  separated,  there  must  be  a  new  cut. 

12.  If  the  dealer  reshuffles  the  pack  after  it  has  been  prop- 
erly cut,  he  loses  his  deal. 

DEALING. 

13.  When  the  pack  has  been  properly  cut  and  reunited,  the 
dealer  must  distribute  the  cards,  one  at  a  time,  to  each  player 
in  regular  rotation,  beginning  at  his  left.     The  last,  which  is 
the  trump  card,  must  be  turned  up  before  the  dealer.    At  the 


5?  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

end  of  the  hand  or  when  the  deal  is  lost,  the  deal  passes  to  the 
player  next  to  the  dealer  on  his  left,  and  so  on  to  each  in  turn. 

14.  There  must  be  a  new  deal  by  the  same  dealer: — 

I.  If  any  card  except  the  last  is  faced  in  the  pack. 

II.  If,  during  the  deal  or  during  the  play  of  the  hand,  the 
pack  is  proved  incorrect  or  imperfect ;  but   any   prior   score 
made  with  that  pack  shall  stand. 

15.  Ifp  during  the  deal,  a  card  is  exposed,  the  side  not  in 
fault  may  demand  a  new  deal,  provided  neither  of  that  side  has 
touched  a  card.     If  a  new  deal  does  not  take  place,  the  ex- 
posed card  is  not  liable  to  be  called. 

1 6.  Any  one  dealing  out  of  turn  or  with  his  adversaries' pack 
may  be  stopped  before  the  trump  card  is  turned,  after  which, 
the  deal  is  valid  and  the  packs,  if  changed,  so  remain. 

MISDEALING. 

17.  It  is  a  misdeal : — 

I.  If  the  dealer  omits  to  have  the  pack  cut  and  his  adversar- 
ies discover  the  error  before  the  trump  card  is  turned  and 
before  looking  at  any  of  their  cards. 

II.  If  he  deals  a  card  incorrectly  and  fails  to  correct  the 
error  before  dealing  another. 

in.  If  he  counts  the  cards  on  the  table  or  in  the  remainder 
of  the  pack. 

IV.  If,  having  a  perfect  pack,  he  does  not  deal  to  each  player 
the  proper  number  of  cards,  and  the  error  is  discovered  before 
all  have  played  to  the  first  trick. 

v.  If  he  looks  at  the  trump  card  before  the  deal  is  completed. 

VI.  If  he  places  the  trump  card  face  downwards  upon  his 
own  or  any  other  player's  cards. 

A  misdeal  loses  the  deal,  unless,  during  the  deal,  either  of 
the  adversaries  touches  a  card  or  in  any  other  manner  inter- 
rupts the  dealer. 

THE  TRUMP  CARD. 

18.  The  dealer  must  leave  the  trump  card  face  upwards  on 
the  table  until  it  is  his  turn  to  play  to  the  first  trick ;  if  it  is 
left  on  the  table  until  after  the  second  trick  has  been  turned 
and  quitted,  it  is.  liable  to  be  called,    After  it  has  been  lawfully 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  577 

taken  up,  it  must  not  be  named,  and  any  player  naming  it  is 
liable  to  have  his  highest  or  his  lowest  trump  called  by  either 
adversary.  A  player  may,  however,  ask  what  the  trump  suit  is. 

IRREGULARITIES   IN   THE  HANDS. 

19.  If,  at  any  time  after  all  have  played  to  the  first  trick,  the 
pack  being  perfect,  a  player  is  found  to  have  either  more  or 
less  than  his  correct  number  of  cards,  and  his  adversaries  have 
their  right  number,  the  latter,  upon  the  discovery  of  such  sur- 
plus or  deficiency,  may  consult  and  shall  have  the  choice : — 

I.  To  have  a  new  deal ;  or 

II.  To  have  the  hand  played  out,  in  which  case  the  surplus 
or  missing  card  or  cards  are  not  taken  into  account. 

If  either  of  the  adversaries  also  has  more  or  less  than  his 
correct  number,  there  must  be  a  new  deal. 

If  any  player  has  a  surplus  card  by  reason  of  an  omission  to 
play  to  a  trick,  his  adversaries  can  exercise  the  foregoing  privi- 
lege only  after  he  has  played  to  the  trick  following  the  one  in 
which  such  omission  occurred. 

CARDS   LIABLE   TO   BE   CALLED. 

20.  The  following  cards  are  liable  to  be  called  by  either  ad- 
versary : — 

I.  Every  card  faced  upon  the  table  otherwise  than  in  the 
regular  course  of  play,  but  not  including  a  card  led  out  of  turn. 

II.  Every  card  thrown  with  the  one  led  or  played  to  the  cur- 
rent trick.     The  player  must  indicate  the  one  led  or  played. 

III.  Every  card  so  held  by  a  player  that  his  partner  sees  any 
portion  of  its  face. 

IV.  All  the  cards  in  a  hand  lowered  or  shown  by  a  player  so 
that  his  partner  sees  more  than  one  card  of  it. 

V.  Every  card  named  by  the  player  holding  it. 

21.  All  cards  liable  to  be  called  must  be  placed  and  left  face 
upward  on  the  table.     A  player  must  lead  or  play  them  when 
they  are  called,  provided  he  can  do  so  without  revoking.     The 
call  may  be  repeated  at  each  trick  until  the  card  is  played. 
A  player  cannot  be  prevented  from  leading  or  playing  a  card 
liable  to  be  called  ;  if  he  can  get  rid  of  it  in  the  course  of  play, 
no  penalty  remains. 


578  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

22.  If  a  player  leads  a  card  better  than  any  his  adversaries 
hold  of  the  suit,  and  then  leads  one  or  more  other  cards  with- 
out waiting  for  his  partner  to  play,  the  latter  may  be  called 
upon  by  either  adversary  to  take  the  first  trick,  and  the  other 
cards  thus  improperly  played  are  liable  to  be  called  ;  it  makes 
no  difference  whether  he  plays  them  one  after  the  other,  or 
throws  them  all  on  the  table  together,  after  the  first  card  is 
played,  the  others  are  liable  to  be  called. 

23.  A  player  having  a  card  liable  to  be  called  must  not  play 
another  until  the  adversaries  have  stated  whether  or  not  they 
wish  to  call  the  card  liable  to  the  penalty.     If  he  plays  another 
card  without   awaiting  the  decision  of  the  adversaries,  such 
other  card  also  is  liable  to  be  called. 

LEADING   OUT  OF  TURN. 

24.  If  any  player  leads  out  of  turn,  a  suit  may  be  called  from 
him  or  his  partner,  the  first  time  it  is  the  turn  of  either  of  them 
to  lead.     The  penalty  can  be  enforced  only  by  the  adversary 
on  the  right  of  the  player  from  whom  a  suit  can  lawfully  be 
called. 

If  a  player,  so  called  on  to  lead  a  suit,  has  none  of  it,  or  if  all 
have  played  to  the  false  lead,  no  penalty  can  be  enforced.  If 
all  have  not  played  to  the  trick,  the  cards  erroneously  played 
to  such  false  lead  are  not  liable  to  be  called  and  must  betaken 
back. 

PLAYING   OUT   OF   TURN. 

25.  If  the  third  hand  plays  before  the  second,  the  fourth 
hand  also  may  play  before  the  second. 

26.  If  the  third  hand  has  not  played,  and  the  fourth  hand 
plays  before  the  second,  the  latter  may  be  called  upon  by  the 
third  hand  to  play  his  highest  or  lowest  card  of  the  suit  led  or, 
if  he  has  none,  to  trump  or  not  to  trump  the  trick. 

ABANDONED   HANDS. 

27.  If  all  four  players  throw  their  cards  on  the  table,  face 
upwards,   no   further   play   of   that  hand  is   permitted.     The 
result  of  the  hand,  as  then  claimed  or  admitted,  is  established, 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  57 g 

provided  that,  if  a  revoke  is  discovered,  the  revoke  penalty 
attaches. 

REVOKING. 

28.  A  revoke  is  a  renounce  in  error  not  corrected  in  time. 
A  player  renounces  in  error,  when,  holding  one  or  more  cards 
of  the  suit  led,  he  plays  a  card  of  a  different  suit. 

A  renounce  in  error  may  be  corrected  by  the  player  making 
it,  before  the  trick  in  which  it  occurs  has  been  turned  and 
quitted,  unless  either  he  or  his  partner,  whether  in  his  right 
turn  or  otherwise,  has  led  or  played  to  the  following  trick,  or 
unless  his  partner  has  asked  whether  or  not  he  has  any  of  the 
suit  renounced. 

29.  If  a  player  corrects  his  mistake  in  time  to  save  a  revoke, 
the  card  improperly  played  by  him  is  liable  to  be  called ;  any 
player  or  players,  who  have  played  after  him,  may  withdraw 
their  cards  and  substitute  others;   the  cards  so  withdrawn  are 
not  liable  to  be  called. 

30.  The  penalty  for  revoking  is  the  transfer  of  two  tricks 
from  the  revoking  side  to  their  adversaries  ;  it  can  be  enforced 
for  as  many  revokes  as  occur  during  the  hand.     The  revoking 
side  cannot  win  the  game  in  that  hand  ;  if  both  sides  revoke, 
neither  can  win  the  game  in  that  hand. 

31.  The  revoking  player  and  his  partner  may  require  the 
hand,  in  which  the  revoke  has  been  made,  to  be  played  out, 
and  score  all  points  made  by  them  up  to  the  score  of  six. 

32.  At  the  end  of  a  hand,  the  claimants  of  a  revoke  may 
search  all  the  tricks.     If  the  cards  have  been  mixed,  the  claim 
may  be  urged  and  proved,  if  possible  ;  but  no  proof  is  necessary 
and  the  revoke  is  established,  if,  after  it  has  been  claimed,  the 
accused  player  or  his  partner  mixes  the  cards  before  they  have 
been  examined  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  adversaries. 

33.  The  revoke  can  be  claimed  at  any  time  before  the  cards 
have  been  presented  and  cut  for  the  following  deal,  but  not 
thereafter. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

34.  Any  one,  during  the  play  of  a  trick  and  before  the  cards 


580  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

have  been  touched  for  the  purpose  of  gathering  them  together, 
may  demand  that  the  players  draw  their  cards. 

35.  If  any  one,  prior  to  his  partner  playing,  calls  attention  in 
any  manner  to  the  trick  or  to  the  score,  the  adversary  last  to 
play  to  the  trick  may  require  the  offender's  partner  to  play  his 
highest  or  lowest  of  the  suit  led  or,  if  he  has  none,  to  trump  or 
not  to  trump  the  trick. 

36.  If  any  player  says  "  I  can  win  the  rest,"  "  The  rest  are 
ours."  "We  have  the  game,"  or  words  to  that  effect,  his  part- 
ner's cards  must  be  laid  upon  the  table  and  are  liable  to  be 
called. 

37.  When  a  trick  has  been  turned  and  quitted,  it  must  not 
again  be  seen  until  after  the  hand  has  been  played.     A  viola- 
tion of  this  law  subjects  the  offender's  side  to  the  same  penalty 
as  in  case  of  a  lead  out  of  turn. 

38.  If  a  player  is  lawfully  called  upon  to  play  the  highest  or 
lowest  of  a  suit,  or  to  trump  or  not  to  trump  a  trick,  or  to  lead 
a  suit,  and  unnecessarily  fails  to  comply,  he  is  liable  to  the 
same  penalty  as  if  he  had  revoked. 

39.  In  all  cases  where  a  penalty  has  been  incurred,  the   of- 
fender must  await  the  decision  of  the  adversaries.     If  either  of 
them,  with  or  without  his  partner's  consent,  demands  a  penalty, 
to  which  they  are  entitled,  such  decision  is  final.     If  the  wrong 
adversary  demands  a  penalty  or  a  wrong  penalty  is  demanded, 
none  can  be  enforced. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  581 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 
THE     ETIQUETTE     OF     WHIST, 

AS   ADOPTED    BY   THE 

THIRD    AMERICAN   WHIST    CONGRESS, 
Chicago,  June  20-24, 


The  following  rules  belong  to  the  established  code 
of  whist  etiquette.  They  are  formulated  with  a  view 
to  discourage  and  repress  certain  improprieties  of 
conduct,  therein  pointed  out,  which  are  not  reached 
by  the  laws.  The  courtesy  which  marks  the  inter- 
course of  gentlemen  will  regulate  other  more  obvious 
cases. 

I.  No  conversation  should  be  indulged  in  during  the  play 
except  such  as  is  allowed  by  the  laws  of  the  game. 

II.  No  player  should  in  any  manner  whatsoever  give  any  in- 
timation as  to  the  state  of  his  hand  or  of  the  game,  or  of  approval 
or  disapproval  of  a  play. 

ill.  No  player  should  lead  until  the  preceding  trick  is  turned 
and  quitted. 

IV.  No  player  should,  after  having  led  a  winning  card,  draw 
a  card  from  his  hand  for  another  lead  until  his  partner  has 
played  to  the  current  trick. 

V.  No  player  should  play  a  card  in  any  manner  so  as  to  call 
particular  attention  to  it,  nor  should  he  demand  that  the  cards 
be  placed  in  order  to  attract  the  attention  of  his  partner. 

vi.  No  player  should  purposely  incur  a  penalty  because  he 
is  willing  to  pay  it,  nor  should  he  make  a  second  revoke  in 
order  to  conceal  one  previously  made. 


582  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

vil.  No  player  should  take  advantage  of  information  im- 
parted by  his  partner  through  a  breach  of  etiquette. 

vill.  No  player  should  object  to  referring  a  disputed  question 
of  fact  to  a  bystander  who  professes  himself  uninterested  in  the 
result  of  the  game  and  able  to  decide  the  question. 

IX.  Bystanders  should  not  in  any  manner  call  attention  to  or 
give  any  intimation  concerning  the  play  or  the  state  of  the 
game,  during  the  play  of  a  hand.  They  should  not  look  over 
the  hand  of  a  player  without  his  permission ;  nor  should  they 
walk  around  the  table  to  look  at  the  different  hands. 


INDEX. 

(Page-numbers  of  casual  references,  giving  comparatively  little 
information,  in  brackets?) 


Abbreviations,  17. 

Ace  combinations,  leads  of,  63,  64. 

Ace,  leads  of,  19,  20. 

king  combination,  leads  of,  61. 

queen,  knave  combination,  leads  of,  62. 

then  king,  leads  of,  illustrated,  440,  et  seq. 

then  queen,  leads  of,  illustrated,  442. 

then  knave,  leads  of,  illustrated,  443. 

then  10,  leads  of,  illustrated,  444. 

then  9,  leads  of,  illustrated,  445. 

then  original  fourth-best,  analysis  of,  43,  et  seq. 

then  fourth-best,  showing  advantages  due  to  unblock- 
ing»  45- 

then    fourth-best,    showing    command    and    numerical 
strength,  43. 

then  fourth-best,  protection,  features  of,  44. 

then  fourth-best,  disadvantages  of,  illustrated,  46,  47. 

then  low,  42. 
American  Leads,  three  cardinal  principles  of,  28,  29. 

first  maxim,  analysis  of,  29,  et  seq. 

second  maxim,  33. 

second  maxim,  analysis  of,  37,  et  seq. 

second  maxim,  combinations  not  subject  to,  33,  34. 

second  maxim,  application  of,  33. 

third  maxim  of,  53. 

third  maxim,  analysis  of,  54,  et  seq. 

third  maxim,  play  of,  illustrated,  [449]. 


5^4  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

American  Leads,  third  maxim,  combinations  where  the  maxim 
applies,  53,  54. 

third  maxim,  combinations  that  do  not  come  under  ap- 
plication of,  57. 
Call,  the,  267,  e't  seq. 

abandonment  of,  182. 

anticipating  a,  244,  313,  314,  539. 

asking  partner  to  go  on  with  trumps,  271,  2£2. 

any  player,  including  original  leader  may,  276. 

use  and  abuse  of,  267,  268. 

and  echo,  illustrated,  277,  278. 

answer  with  ace,  if  held,  irrespective  of  number,  281, 
et  seq. 

and  echo  completed  in  the  play  of  five  cards,  278,  279 

beginners  prone  to  abuse,  275,  276. 

covering,  second  hand,  not  a,  144. 

in  conjunction  with  unblocking,  182,  183. 

interferes  with  best  play,  [169]. 

great  care  should  be  exercised.  271. 

good  play  often  mistaken  for  a,  276. 

made  by  discard  of  an  8  or  higher  card,  268,  et  seq. 

refusal  to,  holding  seven  trumps,  537. 

refusing  to  answer,  271,  547. 

reference  to,  [102,  103,  144,  145,  146]. 

rare  use  of,  in  simplest  form,  259. 

reason  why  not  respected  as  formerly,  274,  et  seq. 

repeating  a,  273,  274. 

single-card  call  by  discard,  [278],  547. 

single  discard  call,  most  effective,  268,  et  seq. 

strength  that  should  support  a,  281. 

third  hand,  10  led,  208. 

trump  signaling,  second  hand,  dangerous,  275. 
tailing,  various  methods  of,  268,  et  seq. 

and  unblocking,  illustrated,  447  ;  cited,  [442]. 

third  hand,  in  conjunction  with  unblocking,  167. 
Changing  suits,  395,  396. 
Combination  of  forces  the  beauty  of  the  game,  416. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  585 

Command  of  opponents'  suit,  keeping,  490. 

Conventional  play,  value  of,  419,  420. 

Counting  the  hands,  439,  et  seq. 

Coup,  the  grand,  illustrated,  496. 

Coups,  Deschapelles,  referred  to,  [154] ;  illustrated,  495. 

Critical  endings,  455,  et  seq. 

Deuce,  lead  of,  28. 

lead  of,  illustrated,  453. 
Deschapelles  coup,  495. 
Discard  the,  359,  et  seq. 

a  singleton  ace,  when  to,  368. 

conventional,  dual  purpose  of,  362. 

echo  of  strength,  366. 

giving  partner  a,  547. 

getting  rid  of  command  by,  373. 

injudicious  to  show  utter  weakness  by,  372. 

leading  to  the,  374,  et  seq. 

leading  to  adversaries',  375. 

leading  to  partner's.  374,  375. 

means  of  getting  rid  of  command,  cited,  [177]- 

original,  359,  et  seq. 

of  middle  card,  unblocking  by,  182. 

putting  opponents  to  the,  459. 

showing  strength  by  echo,  331. 

unblocking  by,  368,  et  seq. 

when  best  to  stick  to  one  suit,  362,  363. 

when  and  when  not  to  publish  strength  or  weakness  by, 

372,  373- 

when  trump  strength  is  declared,  how  to,  359,  360. 
Discards,  dangerous,  singleton,  etc.,  362. 
Discarding  a  trump,  364,  et  seq.,  505,  506. 

a  high  card  of  a  suit  not  yet  in  play,  danger  of,  372. 

from  best  protected  suit,  illustrated,  540. 

from  partner's  great  suit,  danger  of,  363,  364. 

general  hints  on.  569,  et  seq. 

injudicious,  520,  521. 
Duplicate  whist,  432,  et  seq. 


S86  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Duplicate  whist  as  a  test  of  skill,  433. 
Echo,  the,  277,  et  seq. 

after  force,  exceptional  holdings,  291. 
after  force,  offers  calling  hand  two  lines  of  play,  288. 
after  force,  summary  of  play,  291. 
anticipating,  314,  315. 
how  to  show  any  number  of  trumps,  279. 
illustrated,  555. 

plain  suit  led,  to  show  a  master  card,  330,  et  seq. 
plain  suit  echo,  330.  et  seq. 
showing  best  suit  by,  331,  et  seq. 
(Sub-),  cited,  [272]. 
table,  high  cards  in  sequence,  294. 
the  sub- echo,  305,  et  seq. 

value  of  immediate  declaration  of  four  trumps,  288. 
when  not  to,  314. 
Echoing,  by  aid  of  trump  turned,  300,  301. 

by  manner  of  taking  a  force,  279.  et  seq. 
by  play  in  plain  suit,  292. 
exceptional  holding,  302,  303. 
great  strength  by  forcing  the  calling  hand,  314. 
holding  ace,  king  and  two  small,  296,  297. 
holding  high  and  low  trumps,  301,  et  seq. 
holding  quart  major,  etc.,  297,  298. 
importance  of  noting  the  fall,  303,  et  seq. 
play  modified  by  trump  card  turned,  292. 
play  to  partner's  trump  lead,  292,  et  seq. 
to  partner's  negative  declaration  of  strength,  314. 
value  of  negative  influence,  305. 
with  high  cards  in  sequence,  293,  et  seq. 
when  not  forced,  291,  et  seq. 
Eight,  leads  of,  24,  et  seq. 

leads  of,  illustrated,  451. 
Eleven  rule,  Foster's,  427,  428. 
Ending    i — Winning  partner's  trick,  456. 
2 — Trumping  partner's  trick,  457. 
3 — Putting  partner  in  by  leading  your  last  trump,  458. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  587 

Ending   4 — Putting  opponent  to  the  discard,  459. 

5— Leading  thirteenth  trump  to  force  a  discard,  460, 

461. 

6 — Leading  thirteenth  trump  to  gain  information,  461. 
7 — Trumping  a  thirteener,  462, 
8 — Passing  a  thirteener,  463. 
a,_Passing  a  thirteener  to  preserve  a  tenace,  464. 
io — Trumping  a  thirteener  to  make  partner's  tenace, 

465- 

1 1 — Refusing  to  overtrump,  466,  467. 
12 — Overtrumping,  467. 
13 — Refusing  to  trump  a  sure  trick,  468. 
14 — Refusing  to  draw  the  losing  trump,  469,  470. 
15 — Leading  the  losing  trump,  470,  471. 
1 6 — Leading  a  losing  card  to  place  the  lead,  471,  472. 
17— Throwing  high  cards  to  avoid  the  lead,  472,  473. 
1 8— Taking  the  eleventh  trick,  473,  474. 
19 — Trumping  partner's  trick  at  trick  eleven,  474. 
20— Making  it  easy  for  partner,  475. 
21 — Making  it  easy  and  sure,  476. 
22 — Underplay  by  leader,  477. 
23 — Underplay  to  place  the  lead,  478. 
24 — Holding  up  and  underplay,  479. 
25 — Taking  the  force  with  a  high  trump,  etc.,  480. 
26 — Unblocking  late  in  hand,  etc.,  481. 
27 — Unblocking,  482. 
28 — Unblocking  discard,  483. 
29 — Giving  partner  certain  cards,  etc.,  484. 
3o — Throwing  the  lead,  485,  486. 
31 — Taking  the  lead  from  partner,  487. 
32 — Clearing  up  partner's  suit,  488,  489. 
33 — Keeping  command  of  opponents'  suit,  490. 
34— Forcing  adversary  to  clear  up  your  suit,  491. 
35 — Leading  up  to  a  double  tenace  in  trumps,  492. 
36 — Forcing  the  opponent  to  play  a  coup,  493. 
37 — The  Deschapelles  coup,  495. 
38 — The  grand  coup,  496. 


5  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Ending  39 — Grand  coup,  and  throwing  high  cards,  497. 

40 — Taking  partner's  trick  to  force  the  last  trump,  498. 

41 — Refusing  to  play  thirteenth  trump,  etc.,  500. 

4^ — Keep  more  than  one  card  of  partner's  suit,  etc.,  501. 

43 — Leading  the  lowest  of  two  cards,  etc,,  502. 

44 — Finesse,  503. 

45 — Avoid  making  adversary's  minor  tenace  a  major, 

504. 

46 — Discarding  a  trump,  505. 
47 — A  typical  case  of  throwing  high  cards,  506. 
48 — Forcing  the  opponent,  507. 
49— Playing  as  though  a  suit  could  go  but  once,  508. 
50 — Showing  hand  by  discard  and  unblocking,  509. 
51 — Giving  partner  a  chance  to  overtrump,  510. 
52 — Preventing  opponents  from  making  trumps  sepa- 
rately, 511. 

53 — Making  your  trumps  separately,  512. 
54 — Refusing  to  lead  a  thirteener,  513. 
55 — Taking  the  only  chance,  514. 
56 — Playing  as  at  double  dummy,  515. 
57 — Double  dummy,  No.  2,  516. 
58 — Overtrumping  partner,  517. 
59 — Sticking  to  rule,  518, 
60 — Trumping  with  the  middle  card,  519. 
61 — Injudicious  discarding,  520. 
62 — Discarding,  No.  2,  521. 
Etiquette  of  whist,  581. 
Example  hands,  84,  et  seq. 
Exceptional  hands,  second  hand,  play  of,  148. 
False  cards,  422,  et  seq.,  cited,  [316]. 
Finesse,  335,  et  seq. 

against  one  card,  low  card  led,  342. 

by  trial,  347,  et  seq. 

cited,  [204,  254,  429,  503]. 

following  up  a,  [338],  402,  403,  549. 

holding  up,  fourth  hand,  241,  et  seq. 

incumbent  upon  A  to  follow  up  B's  successful,  321,  322. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  589 

Finesse,  in  partner's  suit  to  be  avoided,  342. 

in  trumps,  comments  on,  258,  259. 

in  trumps,  illustrated,  255,  et  seq. 

in  trumps,  suggested  by  tiump  card  turned,  321,  et  seq. 

king,  knave,  third  hand,  341. 

king,  ten,  third  hand,  341,  342. 

may  at  times  be  deep  and  persistent,  349. 

not  confined  to  high  cards,  343. 

not  to  be  considered  per  se,  335,  336. 

obligatory,  344,  et  seq. 

on  partner,  350,  351. 

proper,  ace,  queen,  third  hand,  336,  337. 

rarely  justified  from  a  one- suit  standpoint,  340. 

second  hand,  cited,  [100,  101,  107,  108,  109,  117,  149]. 

strength  in  trumps,  justification  for,  348. 

the  return,  349    350. 

third  hand,  ace,  knave,  338,  et  seq. 

third  hand,  holding  ace,  queen  only,  does  not,  337. 

third  hand,  play  for  early  establishment  of  leader's  suit, 
338. 

third  hand,  when  lead  is  from  weakness,  342,  et  seq. 

underplay,  merit  of,  [245]. 

when  not  to,  in  trumps,  259. 

when  not  to  make  the  major  tenace,  338. 
First  hand,  18,  et  seq. 
Fourth-best,  analysis  of,  24,  et  seq. 

leads,  possible  combinations  of,  27. 
Fourth  hand,  play  of,  240,  et  seq. 

finesse  and  strategy  of,  illustrated,  241. 

holding  up,  keen  perception  necessary,  244,  245. 
Forced  leads,  76,  et  seq. 

of  the  8,  detection  of,  25,  et  seq.,  f  101]. 

reference  to,  157,  158. 

trumps,  525. 
Forced  by  partner,  384,  385. 

by  the  adversary,  384. 
Force,  how  to  take  a,  and  afterward  lead  trumps,  315,  et  seq. 


59°  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Force,  how  to  take  a,  holding  more  than  four  trumps.  318,  319. 
Forcing,  378,  et  seq. 

general  rules  of,  379,  et  seq. 

general  rules  not  always  applicable,  383,  384. 

partner,  379,  et  seq. 

the  adversary,  385,  386,  507. 
Fundamental  principles  of  whist  laws,  566. 
Hands,  illustrated,  523. 

I.  A  neat  play  for  the  odd,  524. 
II.  A  critical  ending,  527. 

III.  Compelling  the  opponent  to  play  a  coup,  etc.,  532. 

IV.  Departing  from  rule,  536. 
V.  Anticipating  a  call,  539. 

VI.  Holding  up,  543. 
VII.  Refusing  to  answer  the  call,  547. 
VIII.  Fine  play  for  the  odd  card,  550. 
IX.  Throwing  high  cards,  554. 
X.  Holding  up  and  underplay,  558. 
XI.  Leading  up  to  a  double  tenace  in  trumps,  561. 
Hands,  example,  85,  et  seq. 

exceptional,  90,92,  93.  95,  96,  97. 
High  card  led,  followed  by  high  card,  53. 
High  card  led,  followed  by  low  card,  33. 
Holding  up,  illustrated,  241,  et  seq.t  543,  544,  558. 
Inferences,  82,  et  seq. 

Inference  Tables — high-card  leads,  83,  84. 
Irregular  leads  and  play,  424,  426. 
Irregular  original  leads,  75,  76. 
samples  of,  90,  92,  95,  96. 
Irregular  play,  departing  from  rule,  421,  422. 
justification  for,  [98,  99,  151,  152]. 
illustrated,  508. 

King,  knave,  ten  combination,  leads  of,  66,  67. 
lead  of,  then  low,  34. 
old  lead  of,  abandoned,  20,  21. 
queen  combination,  leads  of,  66. 
then  small,  leads  of,  illustrated,  446. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  591 

King,  two  leads  of,  20. 

Knave,  leads  of,  21 ;  illustrated,  448. 

lead  (trumps)  from  head  of  sequence,  69. 
old  lead  of,  abandoned,  22. 
Laws  of  American  whist,  the,  568. 
Laws  of  whist,  574. 
Leads,  ace,  two  of,  19,  20. 

ace,  then  king,  illustrated,  440,  et  seq. 
ace,  then  queen,  illustrated,  442. 
ace,  then  knave,  illustrated,  443. 
ace,  then  10,  illustrated,  444. 
ace,  then  9,  illustrated,  445, 
king,  two  of,  20, 
king,  then  low,  34,  446. 
queen,  three  of,  21. 
queen,  then  ace,  illustrated,  447. 
knave,  21  ;  illustrated,  448. 
10,  22  ;  illustrated,  449. 
9,  23  ;  illustrated,  450. 
8,  24,  et  seq.;  illustrated,  451. 
7,  illustrated,  452. 
6,  illustrated,  453. 
2,  illustrated,  453. 
forced,  76,  ct  seq. 
irregular,  75,  76. 
original,  analysis  of,  58,  et  seq. 
special  trump,  74. 
suits  headed  by  the  ace,  58,  et  seq. 
suits  headed  by  the  king,  65,  et  seq. 
suits  headed  by  the  queen,  67,  68. 
suits  headed  by  the  knave,  68,  69. 
trump,  70,  et  seq. 
table  of  high-card,  23. 
table  of  seven,  28. 
table  of  trump,  73. 

Leading  from,  weak  suits  to  save  the  game,  426,  427. 
the  adversaries'  suit,  387,  388. 


592  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Leading  through  the  strong  hand,  376,  389,  et  seq. 
Listless  play — to  be  avoided,  428. 
Losing  cards,  value  of,  388. 

trump,  refusal  to  draw,  469. 
Mannerisms,  417,  et  seq. 
Nine,  leads  of,  23 ;  illustrated,  450. 
Original  lead,  comment  on,  98,  99. 
Overtrump,  refusal  to,  466,  et  seq. 
Overtrumping,  324,  et  seq. 

partner,  517. 

Pertinent  axioms,  434,  et  seq, 
Proficiency,  how  to  be  obtained,  429,  et  seq. 
Queen,  leads  of,  21. 

leads  of,  then  low,  36. 

then  ace,  leads  of,  illustrated,  447. 

then  low,  fourth-best  no  protection,  41,  42. 

then  original  fourth-best,  may  lose  a  trick,  39,  40. 

then  original  fifth-best,  analysis  of,  36,  et  seq.,  189. 
Quart  major  combination,  leads  of,  59. 

to  king  combination,  leads  of,  65. 

to  knave  combination,  leads  of,  68,  69. 

to  queen  combination,  leads  of,  67. 
Re-entry  cards,  425,  426. 

when  to  retain,  533. 
Return,  the,  397,  et  seq. 

departing  from  rule,  404,  405. 

of  the  master  card,  399. 

of  the  master  card,  when  not  to,  403,  404. 

of  the  second-best,  401. 

the  higher  of  two  cards,  397,  398. 

the  highest  of  three  cards,  when  to,  400. 

the  lowest  of  three,  398. 

of  the  9  (10  led),  holding  three  of  the  suit,  204. 
Ruffing,  doubtful  card,  comments  on,  156,  157. 
Rule  versus  reason,  420,  et  seq. 
Second  hand,  100,  et  seq. 

analysis  of  play  in  detail,  107,  et  seq. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  593 

Second  hand  alert  for  forced  leads,  154. 

covering,  not  a  call,  144. 

covering,  play  informatory,  115. 

finesse,  [100,  101]. 

a  judicious  cover,  545. 

exceptional  play  of,  [107],  148,  149. 

exception  to  lowest  card,  102,  et  seq. 

play  of,  ace,  then  9  led,  445. 

play  of,  ace,  king  and  small,  108. 

play  of,  king,  queen  and  small,  108. 

play  of;  queen,  knave  and  small,  108. 

play  of,  holding  court  card  and  one  small,  109,  1 10. 

play  of,  holding  kn.  10,  or  10,  9  and  one  small,  109. 

play  of,  lowest  card,  100. 

play  of,  modified  by  rank  of  card  led,  154. 

play  of,  8  led,  no,  et  seq. 

play  of,  7  led,  1 14,  et  seq. 

play  of,  6  led,  145,  146. 

play  of,  second  round  of  a  suit,  149,  et  seq. 

play  of  (trump),  affected  by  card  turned,  146. 

play  of,  when  lead  is  forced,  157,  et  seq. 

renouncing,  156,  157. 

tables  of  play,  7  led,  143,  144. 

table  of  play,  8  led,  114. 

table  of  play,  suits  headed  by  ace,  104. 

table  of  play,  suits  headed  by  king,  105. 

table  of  play,  suits  headed  by  queen,  kn,  10  or  9,  106. 

table  of  play,  forced  leads,  158. 

throwing  high  cards,  155. 

trumping,  critical  play,  1 56. 
Seven,  lead  of,  illustrated,  452. 
Silence  and  good  whist  inseparable,  419. 
Six,  lead  of,  illustrated,  453. 
Special  topics,  416,  et  seq. 
Strengthening  card,  lead  of,  illustrated,  524. 

in  preference  to  answering  call,  548. 
Sub- echo,  the,  305,  et  seq. 


594  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Sub-echo,  value  of  negative  inference,  309,  310. 

Sub-echoing  in  plain  suits,  309. 

Suit  echo,  the,  330,  et  seq.:  cited,  [376]. 

Table,  diagram  of,  position  and  designation  of  players,  17. 

(echo  after  force),  combinations   favorable   to  lead  of 
highest,  290. 

(echo  after  force),  combinations  unfavorable  to  lead  of 
highest,  289. 

(echo  after  force),  combinations  favorable   to  lead  of 
lowest,  290. 

(echo),  high  cards  in  sequence,  294. 

of  inferences,  Nos.  I,  2,  83,  84. 

of  leads,  8  leads,  25. 

of  leads,  7  leads,  28. 

of  leads,  ace,  then  low  ;  queen,  then  low,  35. 

of  leads,  basis  of  high-card  leads,  23. 

of  leads,  not  under  application  of  third  maxim,  57. 

of  leads,  high  card  followed  by  high  card,  70. 

of  leads,  special,  trump  leads,  74. 

of  leads,  trump,  73. 

of  play,  second  hand,  suits  headed  by  ace,  104, 

of  play,  second  hand,  suits  headed  by  king,  105. 

of   play,  second  hand,  suits  headed  by  queen,  kn,   10 
or  9.  1 06. 

of  play,  second  hand,  8  led,  114. 

of  play,  second  hand,  7  led,  143,  144. 

of  play,  forced  leads,  158. 

of  play,  third  hand,  8  led,  215. 

of  play,  third  hand,  7  led,  218. 

of  play,  third  hand,  6  led,  222. 
Technical  terms,  n,  et  seq. 
Ten,  lead  of,  22 ;  illustrated,  449. 

then  low,  47,  et  seq. 

then  original  fourth-best,  advantages  of,  48,  et  seq. 
Theory  of  modern  scientific  whist,  18. 
Third  hand,  160,  et  seq. 

abandoning  call  for  unblocking  tactics,  182. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  595 

Third  hand,  abandoning  unblocking  tactics,  play  not  a  call,  167. 

danger  of  calling  and  unblocking,  ace  led,  169. 

getting  rid  of  command,  179,  180. 

low  card  led  originally,  226,  et  seq. 

not  calling  if  9  ted  originally  wins,  213. 

not  calling  if  10  led  originally  wins,  208. 

passing  the  8  led,  215,  et  seq. 

passing  the  7  led,  219,  et  seq. 

passing  the  6  led,  220,  et  seq. 

play  directed  by  card  played  second  hand,  224,  et  seq. 

play  modified  by  rank  of  fourth-best,  213,  et  seq. 

play  of ,  10  led,  203,  et  seq. 

play  of,  10  led,  holding  queen  and  two  small,  206. 

play  of,  9  led,  208,  et  seq. 

play  of,  8  led,  213,  et  seq. 

play  of,  7  led,  217,  et  seq. 

play  of,  6  led,  220,  et  seq. 

play  of,  ace  led,  170,  et  seq. 

play  of,  ace  led,  abandonment  of  call,  169. 

play  of,  ace  led,  followed  by  9,  178. 

play  of,  holding  ace  and  two  small,  queen  led,  191,  et  seq. 

play  of,  holding  ace  and  one  small,  queen  led,  193. 

play  of,  holding  ace  knave  only,  king  led,  183. 

play  of,  holding  ace  queen  only,  337,  338. 

play  of,  holding  ace,  queen  and  one  or  more,  10  led,  203. 

play  of,  holding  exactly  four  cards,  162,  et  seq. 

play  of,  in  trumps,  238. 

play  of,  king  led,  183,  et  seq. 

play  of,  knave  led,  197,  et  seq. 

play  of,  knave  led,  holding  ace  and  others,  197,  198. 

play  of,  low  card  led,  214. 

play  of,  queen  led,  185,  et  seq. 

play  of,  queen  led,  when  void,  195. 

play  of,  when  ace  then  small  is  led,  179. 

play  of,  when  ace  then  king  is  led,  173,  174. 

play  of,  when  ace  then  knave  is  led,  176,  177. 

play  of,  when  ace  then  queen  is  led,  174,  et  seq. 


59  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Third  hand,  play  of,  when  ace  then  10  is  led,  177,  178. 

play  of,  when  partner  is  not  original  leader,  237,  et  seq. 
play  of,  when  void  of  suit,  9  led  originally.  213. 
play  of,  when  void  of  suit,  10  led  originally,  208. 
play  of,  when  void  of  suit,  knave  led  originally,  200. 
play  of,  queen  led,  subject  to  the  play  of  second  hand,  191. 
rarely  forced   to   abandon    unblocking    tactics,   knave 

led,  201, 

return  of  9,  holding  9,  8  and  small,  10  led,  204. 
return  of  the  highest  of  three,  180. 
summary  of  play,  235,  et  seq. 
unblocking  game,  160,  et  seq. 
unblocking  and  subsequent  discard,  182. 
unblocking  and  subsequent  return,  180. 
unblocking  and  calling,  167. 
unblocking  first  round,  160,  et  seq. 
unblocking  play,  object  of,  164. 
unblocking,  possibility  of  loss,  ace  led,  170,  et  seq* 
unblocking,  possibility  of  loss,  modes  of  avoiding,  172, 

173. 

unblocking,  third  round,  low  card  led,  234. 

when  to  abandon  call  or  unblocking,  queen  led,  196. 
Thirteener,  passing  a,  463. 

trumping  a,  462,  465. 
Thirteenth,  the,  412,  et  seq. 

lead  of,  object  of,  414,  415, 

lead  of,  to  force  a  discard,  460,  461. 

play  of,  early  in  hand,  412,  et  seq. 

when  not  to  lead  a,  513. 
Throwing  high  cards  to  avoid  the  lead,  472,  497,  498,  556. 

high  cards,  typical  case,  155. 

the  lead,  392,  et  seq.,  [101],  471,  478, 485,  486, 492,  et  seq^ 
506,  526.  564, 

the  lead,  with  losing  trump,  470,  471. 
Tierce  major  combination,  leads  of,  60. 

to  king  combination,  leads  of,  65,  66. 

to  queen  combination,  leads  of,  68. 


MODERN   SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  597 

Trist,  N.  B.,  recent  innovation  of,  36. 
Trump  card,  320,  et  seq. 
Trump  leads,  70,  et  seq. 

differences  of,  from  plain-suit  leads,  71,  et  seq. 

special,  74. 
Trumps,  "  always  lead  from  five,"  exceptions  to,  247. 

card  turned  may  justify  irregular  play,  146,  147. 

card  turned  should  not  be  forgotten,  322,  323. 

deep  finesse  at  times  permissible,  255,  et  seq. 

deep  finesse  to  keep  control,  257. 

exceptions  to  the  immediate  return  of,  262. 

how  to  take  a  force  and  then  lead  trumps,  315,  et  seq. 

keep  command  of,  253,  et  seq. 

late  leads  of,  261. 

late  signals  for,  not  a  peremptory  command,  262. 

lead  of,  affected  by  trump  turned,  320,  321. 

lead  of,  rendered  imperative  by  fall,  259,  et  seq. 

lead  of,  when  situation  demands  it,  259. 

leading  a  high  trump  after  a  force,  317,  et  seq. 

management  of,  246,  et  seq. 

master  card  with  opponent,  when  to  draw  it,  264,  et  seq. 

not  always  used  to  make  long  suits,  250. 

not  "invariably"  led  from  six,  251. 

original  lead  of,  when  no  long  suit  is  held,  247,  248. 

overtrumping,  324,  et  seq. 

play  of,  after  force,  in  answer  to  call,  280,  et  seq. 

play  of,  after  showing  suit,  262,  et  seq. 

play  of,  for  protection  of  established  suits,  254,  et  seq. 

play  of,  holding  five,  247. 

play  of,  holding  four,  251,  et  seq. 

play  of,  holding  less  than  four,  252. 

play  of,  in  answer  to  call,  strengthening  card  valueless, 
283,  et  seq. 

play  of,  in  exceptional  situations,  252. 

rash  speculative  play  of,  usually  disasterous,  249. 

refusal  to  draw  the  losing  trump,  266. 

third-hand  play  of,  238,  239. 


59$  MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST. 

Trumps,  third  hand  unblocking  in,  327,  et  seq. 

when  to  lead  from  five,  247,  et  seq. 
Trumping  partner's  trick,  457. 
Twelfth,  the,  406,  et  seq. 

the  losing,  409,  et  seq. 

the  winning,  407,  et  seq. 
Unblocking,  481,  et  seq.,  [444]. 

ace  led,  170,  et  seq. 

ace  led,  followed  by  king,  173,  174. 

ace  led,  abandon  call  if  any  sacrifice,  169. 

ace,  then  knave  led,  176,  177. 

abandonment  of,  knave  led,  199. 

abandonment  of,  10  led,  207. 

abandonment  of,  to  show  number,  175. 

abandonment  of,  unblocking  tactics,  166,  167. 

advantages  of,  189,  et  seq. 

and  calling,  167,  [442],  447. 

and  calling,  danger  of,  169. 

and  calling,  knave  led,  no  loss  possible,  202. 

call  abandoned  for,  182. 

discard,  509. 

game,  object  of,  164. 

getting  rid  of  command,  179. 

importance  of,  low  card  led,  229,  et  seq. 

information  imparted  by,  163. 

10  led  originally,  203,  et  seq. 

low  card  led,  226,  et  seq. 

low  card  led,  importance  of,  229. 

low  card  led,  second  round,  230,  et  seq. 

play  abandoned,  due  to  bad  play,  207. 

play  and  subsequent  discard,  182. 

play  incumbent  on  leader,  184,  185. 

play  in  trump  suits,  327,  et  seq. 

play  9  led  originally,  209,  et  seq. 

play  objected  to,  no  grounds  for,  181,  et  seq. 

play  possibility  of  loss,  170,  et  seq. 

play,  value  of,  to  show  number,  209,  et  seq. 


MODERN    SCIENTIFIC    WHIST.  599 

Unblocking,  play,  value  of,  negative  inference,  200,  201. 

possibility  of  loss,  modes  of  avoiding,  172,  173. 

queen  led,  possibility  of  loss,  187,  et  seq. 

reading  the  hands  due  to,  209,  et  seq. 

rendered  possible  by  co-operation  of  leader,  176,  181. 

return  of  the  highest  of  three,  180. 

second  round,  10  led,  205. 

second  round,  queen  led,  195. 

simply  to  show  four,  165. 

tactics  abandoned,  due  to  leader's  bad  play,  194. 

tactics  abandoned,  play  not  a  call,  167. 

third  hand,  co-operation  of  leader  necessary,  207. 

third  hand,  general  rules  of,  161,  et  seq. 

third  hand,  holding  exactly  four  cards,  162,  et  seq. 

third  hand,  knave  led,  197,  et  seq. 

third  hand,  second  round,  low  card  led,  226,  et  seq. 

third  hand,  second  round  of  suit,  174,  et  seq. 

third  hand,  summary  of,  235,  et  seq. 

third  hand,  ace,  then  10  led,  177,  178. 

third  round,  low  card  led,  234. 

to  king  led,  danger  of  loss,  184. 

value  of,  cited,  441. 

when  ace,  then  knave  is  led,  443. 

when  queen  is  led,  185,  et  seq. 
Underplay,  352,  et  seq.,  [101],  477,  479,  558. 

by  leader,  353,  354. 

fourth  hand,  356,  et  seq. 

second  hand,  355. 

third  hand,  356. 
Yarborough,  a,  93. 


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